QPR REPORT

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The Evening Standard "The London Football Report: 2007"

The Football Fans Census

The Questions Posed

Q1. Given the resources at his disposal, how would you rate the performance of your club's current manager?

Q2. How do you rate the performance of your club chairman and board of directors this season?

Q3. Including ticket, transport, merchandise and refreshment costs, how much on average does it cost you, as an individual, to watch a home game?

Q4. How did your the levels of your match attendance for the 2006-2007 season compare to your levels of match attendance for the 2005-2006 season?
I went to more games during 2006-2007 season

Q5. Have you witnessed any football hooliganism at your club this season?

Q6. Have you witnessed any incidents of football-related racist abuse at your club this season?

Q7. How many times this season can you recall an incident when you believe a player from your club has deliberately taken a dive to win a free kick or penalty?

Q8. How do you rate your club's home ground?

Q9. Will the price of tickets at your club put you off going to games or renewing your season-ticket next season?

Q10. Which other English club do you dislike the most?

RESULTS BY CLUB
Q1. Given the resources at his disposal, how would you rate the performance of your club's current manager?
QPR
Very Good -- Good -- Ok -- Bad -- Very Bad
2007 38 46 12 4 0
2006 0 2 64 30 4

Q2. How do you rate the performance of your club chairman and board of directors this season?
QPR
2007 8 27 30 27 8
2006 0 4 28 47 21

Q10. Which other English club do you dislike the most?
QPR fans
Chelsea 58%
Arsenal 8%
Brentford 4%

[QPR as "most disliked" only for Brentford fans]
Brentford fans
Fulham 24%
Chelsea 22%
QPR 22%

Rest of the Answers at Census

The survey of football fans following teams in the capital was conducted online by the Football Fans Census on behalf of The Evening Standard between 21st and 25th May 2007.
2,013 fans from the 13 London based league clubs completed the survey.

Fan Census

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Oxford Mail - FOOTBALL: Brock quits Banbury -By Nick Farrant
Banbury United boss Kevin Brock has quit following a bust-up over the club's finances.
The former Oxford United star, 44, has resigned following eight years at the helm after chairman Dave Bennett informed him that his playing budget would again be cut for next season.
The ex-Newcastle and Queens Park Rangers midfielder fought his corner, but with Bennett unwilling to back down, Brock handed in his notice.
"I had a meeting with the chairman and I wasn't happy with what was said," Brock said.
"So I thought it would be better to move on."
Brock has steered Banbury to their highest-ever league placing, winning two promotions during his spell at the club.
He admitted that he contemplated his future when his budget was cut before last season, but this latest news was the final straw.
"Since I've been here it's always been tough - always a bit of a scrap," he said.
"And I felt it was going to be very difficult next season.
"We had quite a few cutbacks last season and everyone stuck with it.
"No-one left the club and that was down to the players staying loyal to me and I'll always appreciate that.
"It would be stretching it a bit to ask them to do it again."
Brock joined Banbury in 1999 as a player, and took over as manager next year.
"I had a meeting with the chairman and I wasn't happy with what was said, so I thought it would be better to move on."
His appointment proved an immediate success, leading the club to promotion out of the Hellenic League Premier Division at the first attempt.
After a couple of seasons in the Dr Martens Eastern Division, Brock led Banbury to promotion via the play-offs into the Southern League Premier Division in 2003-4, where they are now firmly established.
Banbury have also won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup three times in the last four years.
"We did OK last season," he said.
"We finished halfway up the league, got to the semi-finals of the League Cup and won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.
"I think that was a good effort."
Brock said he had many highlights during his time at Spencer Stadium, but says he has no regrets.
"Winning the Hellenic League in the first season was a great achievement," he said.
"From that point it was always a bit of a struggle. We got stuck in the Dr Martens League and had to spend a lot of money getting the ground and pitch right.
"We then went up via the play-offs into the Premier Division and beat Oxford United in the Senior Cup.
"We have established ourselves in the last few years, but we have always been up against it financially.
"I really enjoyed my time at Banbury. What's happened is not great, but that's football." Report


The Times
Pearce vows to return stronger as first spell in exile loomsMatt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent
When Stuart Pearce took the England Under-21 coaching job on a part-time basis in January, Manchester City were worried that their manager might be stretching himself too thin. “They wanted assurances I wasn’t going to take the job permanently and they lose a manager,” he said yesterday. “They didn’t tell me they were going to sack me.” ....
Success at the tournament in the Netherlands will surely bring an offer from the FA to take charge of the under-21s on a permanent basis, but Pearce, as is his manner, is not taking anything for granted. Questions remain about his calibre as a Barclays Premiership manager, but one thing he will never be accused of is self-pity.
He was released by Queens Park Rangers at 13 and spent five years in non-League football, working as an electrician, before making his name with Nottingham Forest and England. “I don’t think I’ve ever been one of the golden children, like the Glenn Hoddles of the era,” he said. “I’ve always had to get myself there by hook or by crook. Losing my job will act as a spur and make me stronger as a manager. I think you learn lessons very, very quickly through adversity.”
Pearce, 45, declined to speculate whether the Under-21 job would suit him better than running a club – “I think football management is football management; you’ve got to win,” he said – but it would spare him from working in the transfer market, where the likes of Bernardo Corradi and Georgios Samaras failed to justify his valuation.
It would also allow him to build on his good work with younger talents such as Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards. Seeing players coming through the academy system was one of his pleasures at City, although he also argues that he did well with his player trading considering his budget. “Six months before I took the job they sold Nicolas Anelka, then Shaun Wright-Phillips went that summer,” he said, “but in my first season we were a penalty kick away from getting into Europe. The following two seasons we have recouped £13.5 million.
“I feel as though I probably did a lot of good at the club over a difficult period, when there was no finance at all. The squad now has got a much bigger resale value than it had two years ago. There’s more emphasis on young players.”
Pearce will have the chance to work with more bright young individuals such as David Bentley, James Milner, David Nugent and Nigel Reo-Coker next month. Success would guarantee at least one job offer, with the FA eager to make the under-21 manager’s job a full-time position. The Times

Former QPR Player Richard Ord (at least technically!) on Roy Keane as Manager
Roy will demand moreMay 31 2007 - By Nick Purewal, The Evening Chronicle
Roy Keane has his sights set higher than any previous Sunderland manager. That's the view of former Black Cats defender Richard Ord, who believes the duo of Keane and Niall Quinn will bring unparalleled success to Wearside.
Ord made 256 appearances for Sunderland between 1987 and 1998, before leaving for QPR in a £1m-plus deal.
A serious knee injury ended his career in his first training session at his new club, but he still cherishes his 1996 First Division championship winners medal.
Forming an integral part of Peter Reid's defence, Ord is well-placed to compare this latest Premiership adventure with his personal experience and subsequent events.
Hailing Keane's immediate impact, Ord said: "Keane is without doubt the most ambitious manager the club has ever had, and he will want to do a whole lot more than just see Sunderland survive in the Premiership..."Report


And as noted earlier: John Spencer's Houston Dynamos Visited the White House and met the President. Spencer

Tim Sandercombe has been released by Plymouth - Plymouth

Glentoran's almost manager talking, including re Alan McDonald
BBC - Thursday, 31 May 2007,

Walker offered Glens board role

Roy Walker has been offered a position on the Glentoran board in the wake of the managerial shambles at the club.

Walker was appointed as Glens boss last Thursday but then lost the job two days later because he does hold the required Uefa coaching licence.

He said that he would consider a boardroom role if director for football Tom Dicks quits his position.

Walker claimed that new boss Alan McDonald has made clear he does not want Walker involved with the club.

"I would consider taking a look at it should some pre-conditions be in place," said Walker of the offer.

"I do feel that Tom Dick, a man I have no problem with whatsoever, he's his own man, but I feel for Tom's own sake and in the interests of the football club, he needs to step down.

"Alan McDonald has stated that he wants no involvement with me at the club. So it would be very difficult for me to find a rule with the current situation."

Walker is convinced that that the Uefa licencing issue could have been overcome to ensure that he took the job later this summer.

I feel I've been a pawn in a very messy game and that there's another agenda on the go

"It didn't need to be an issue if Alan McDonald, who is an A licence holder, had stayed on in the capacity that he had agreed to, as caretaker manager.

"Certainly the B licence would have been completed by the first week of July and I was scouring Europe for the best available A licence course.

"The IFA has a letter dated the same day I was appointed (24 May), confirmed McDonald as caretaker, unbeknownest to me and I suspect unbeknownest to him (Alan McDonald).

"Then, the IFA received a letter confirmed Alan McDonald as manager until May 2008. That was the very next day.

"This letter stated that it was signed by the chairman (Stafford Reynolds) on behalf of the board but I can confirm that several board members were not aware of this."

Walker insists that there were "a lot of options that would have made this an easy fit".

"This did not need to be the debacle that it turned out.

"I feel I've been a pawn in a very messy game and that there's another agenda on the go." BBC

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MLS Champions, Houston Dynamos , where former QPR forward John Spencer is Assistant Coach, visited the White House and met President Bush, Tuesday. Dynamo meet Bush at White House ----- Photos of the White House Visit ---- Player's account of Meeting.

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From BBC Gossip

Lee Camp's move to QPR is in doubt because of Derby's promotion to the Premiership, with the keeper - who had been on loan at Loftus Road - entitled to a pay rise if he stays with the Rams and the Championship side unable to match such terms. (The Sun)

QPR chairman Gianni Paladini has told Fulham it will take a bid of about £5m to land winger Lee Cook. (Daily Star)

Reading want Watford defender Danny Shittu. (Daily Star) BBC

The Sun - LEE CAMP’S move to QPR is in doubt because of Derby’s promotion to the Premiership.
Rangers hoped to bring the England Under-21 keeper to Loftus Road permanently after a second successful loan spell.
But Camp, 22, is now entitled to an £8,000-a- week pay rise if he stays at Derby and wants some compensation for the wage cut he would take with Rangers.
The Championship side are willing to pay up to £500,000 for Camp but can afford to pay him no more than £4,000 a week. The Sun

Clubcall - Wycombe boss pesters Gregory
Wycombe boss Paul Lambert says he is 'pestering' John Gregory on a daily basis about signing Tommy Doherty from QPR.
Lambert wants to turn Doherty's highly-successful loan spell at Adams Park into a permanent transfer.
But the Chairboys manager has been made aware of other clubs interested in Doherty which may reduce his chances of pulling off a deal.
And Lambert told Wycombe's official website: "I am as keen to get Tommy back here as any of our supporters, but there is plenty of interest in him from other clubs.
"He is a terrific player at this level and was very popular, so if we land him it will be a great signing. Clubcall

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In May 2002 (long before the present Board took over at QPR), QPR took 10 million pound loan at 10% per annum from the "mysterious" ABC Lenders. For more re ABC Loan, see QPR Report re ABC and QPR Report

This week, an article by Ben Kosky in the Kilburn Times "ABC spells trouble for five more years"
"QPR chairman Gianni Paladini has revealed that the club could be saddled with their crippling ABC loan until 2012 - unless new investors come forward within weeks.
Rangers have been struggling to pay off the Panamanian-based company for the last five years, when a loan of £10m enabled the club to come out of administration.
But, after the collapse of a proposed deal with Oldham chairman Simon Blitz, Paladini has issued a desperate plea for alternative finance to help him renegotiate the ABC payments.
"Time is very short," the Rs chairman told the Times. "The conditions with ABC are that if we don't do anything in one month, the deal is set for another five years.
"The rate of interest is going up to 11.59 per cent. We need somebody with a lot of money, who can buy off the ABC loan - if anyone is capable of rearranging the deal, I want to hear from them.
"The door is open and this is the time, if there's anybody out there with QPR at heart, to come in. The club is in better condition now than it's been for a long time.
"I've tried, the rest of the board have tried, shareholders have tried and Bill Power tried when he was here - it's not easy. We need people who are serious, not a waste of time...."
"Cook was never an issue," stressed Paladini. "We had an agreement with the Americans that they would buy the ABC loan, plus put another £3m into the club.
"It was a fantastic deal for us, everything was set for them to come in and I asked them to put down a deposit. I was trying to protect the deal for QPR and I asked them to make sure everything was above board. "It was nothing to do with selling Cook. I could easily have balanced the books by selling Cook and [Dexter] Blackstock, but I don't want to do that..." Kilburn Times


SOME PAST STATEMENTS RE ABC LOAN Loan

May 2007 - QPR OFFICIAL SITE - CLUB STATEMENT
The Board have today (Sunday) issued the following statement with regards to on-going speculation in the national press.
Queens Park Rangers FC have been involved in discussions with Simon Blitz about possibilities of re-financing the ABC loan at a better interest rate for QPR.
As part of those negotiations, and by way of a down-payment to demonstrate his interest in assisting with this in the future, Mr Blitz agreed to loan QPR £500,000.
It was agreed that the loan was not in violation of the Football Association or Football League rules.
Mr Blitz, as the lending party, assured QPR that he was satisfied, having received his own legal advice, that the loan did not violate any football rules.
The loan, and the security for the loan was not hidden and was made public by the registration of the security at Companies House.
Contrary to press reports, the loan was not made to help QPR with its payroll, but was made in the context of the ABC re-financing discussions.
Having taken further advice, and having discovered that Simon Blitz did not have the prior written authorisation of the F.A. to make this loan, QPR has agreed to pay the loan back forthwith.
QPR would like to assure its supporters that it has no intention of selling Lee Cook, and the fact that the proceeds of any future sale was offered as a security does not suggest this.
Mr Blitz had no say in any potential sale of Lee Cook, and now it is agreed to repay the loan he will not have a security over him.
QPR will continue to work hard to try and re-finance the ABC loan in the near future.
The contents of this statement have been shown to Simon Blitz and agreed by him. It will also been sent to the Football Association.QPR

April 12 2007 QPR Fans Consultative Group Minutes
6. ABC Loan Update
[Director Kevin Steele] KS spoke/updated about this; saying that the ABC loan as we all know came via an offshore company and that there are regulations protecting their confidentiality; that the interest rate of 10% is crippling and that the board are looking at ways of getting it refinanced/paid off.
He went on to say that there are discussions ongoing currently with three banks - one German and two well known banks - and that they are trying to negotiate a 7%- 7.5% rate of interest. Not only that but also looking at the possibility of incorporating some way of starting to pay off the capital. Talks are ongoing, but obviously due to the confidential nature of the discussions, they cannot say too much at the moment. QPR

June 6, 2006 - Chairman Paladini on ABC - QPR Official Site
"...As I still get asked about the ABC loan I would like to tell the fans and shareholders that we are hoping to replace the ABC loan in the near future with a cheaper loan from a more reputable financial institution.
What do we know about the ABC Corporation? Unfortunately very little, we have suspicions, but we can't prove who the controlling interest behind the ABC Corporation is.
The ABC Corporation's lack of transparency means that the Board must question their motives and their attitude towards the club which is why the Board wish to refinance the ABC loan. We will be reviewing the legality of the ABC loan. QPR

May 2, 2006 Clive Whittingham QPR Rivals Q&A with Paladini:
Q: "Five years until the ABC loan expires - should we be worried yet?
Paladini It is my mission to stop that. I didn't create that situation and it's a difficult one to deal with but while I'm here it is my mission to get rid of it. The more people who see we're doing a good job the better the chance is that they'll help us out and work with us on this. We were very close to doing a deal with the Lloyds bank but then there was all that stuff in the Evening Standard and they pulled out, didn't want to know any more. When I took over here, the VAT man, the tax man, the creditors - none of them trusted QPR, and we've had to catch up with payments. People were queuing up for money here in September. We have to put forward a united front and look like a secure option for people to come and help us out. We're working hard on this, Antonio is in Milan today talking to banks and potential lenders. I am confident we'll be rid of the loan within the five years. Whatever happens I'm sure we'll do it...
Q: Do we even know who ABC Corporation are?
Paladini No, no idea. They're based in Panama with a Swiss bank account I think but we just don't know. Ross Jones does though - "I know who's behind it all but I gave my word that I wouldn't reveal who it is so that's that. I'm a man of my word."
QPR Rivals

QPR 1st AGM April 2006
"...When asked to elaborate a little upon the groups, GP started to become a tad defensive, saying that himself and AC had put so much into the club, and then mentioned that at that very time, whilst he cannot say too much, AC was currently away in Milan attempting to see if he could find a solution to being able to refinance the ABC loan, saying “I realise what you Tracy, and others are talking about today about paying off the loan, but we need to try to look at ways of refinancing it, and getting it away from ABC when the 5-year term is up”. He then went onto mention that whilst he appreciated people’s concern, he wanted to give an example of how gossip on messageboards does have the potential to scupper possible commercial deals, citing how they had apparently verbally agreed with a High Street bank a renegotiation of the loan, only for them to pull out due to lack of confidence following rumours of the company going into administration. QPR1st

March 17, 2006 - QPR 1st Report QPR Holdings Ltd AGM
Whilst talking about loans, CP went on to mention the ABC loan, saying that the interest was 10% on it for 5 years, after 5 years (Spring of next year) there is a break clause, however the clause is not to our benefit because if we cannot find a way out of the loan, then ABC can up the interest should they so wish.
Antonio Caliendo then expressed a wish to speak and with the translation skills of Paolo Mina, we learnt that according to AC, the Board wishes to reach an agreement with ABC before the 5 year period and that they hope to present better results next year in order to hopefully be able to do this..... QPR1st

December 2005 QPR Official Site Q&A -
it appears to me very easy and without access to the financial side at QPR, I guess I can only make assumptions. Are there negotiations taking place with solicitors, lenders and ABC in order to either re-negotiate with ABC or a high street lender?
Paladini: We are arranging a new loan with the Lloyds TSB. The directors will give their personal guarantee on the loan. We hope to get an interest rate between 5.75% to 6%. Depending on the final interest rate we will save between £400-425k per year. QPR


LSA- November 2005
"... LSA reps asked whether there was any progress on renegotiating the loan. GP said that talks are underway with a UK bank to try and get them to take over the loan at a rate of 6.5% instead of the 10% that we currently pay. We are also in negotiations with ABC Corporation to try and reduce the lump sum we will have to pay them if the bank takes over the loan.
GP said: “The loan was not the immediate problem – the biggest problem here was getting running costs back under control and avoiding administration, which we have done.” He said the club has saved £160k a year, for example, just by not replacing Mark Devlin and Mark Austin.
Despite that, our outgoings are still phenomenal. GP said that in the last 18 months our income has been £18m but this has all been spent. In one month alone we paid out £1.2m on bills, “but we still have money in the bank”.
A Member asked whether we are doing anything about the way the ABC loan was taken out. GP said there is nothing we can do, so it is not worth pursuing." LSA

October 2005 - Ron Norris/QPRNet Interview with Paladini QPRnet.com:
Is it true that we are behind on our payments to many suppliers?
Paladini: I tried to renegotiate the ABC loan and then some rubbish goes in the paper saying I was this and I was that, saying I was robbing the club and then they say we are going to go into liquidation. If while this is all going on you go to the bank to borrow ten million pounds that doesn’t do you any favours. I got an email from the bank and they didn’t want to take it any further because of these rumours. Never mind, we’ll carry on and eventually we’ll get rid of the ABC loan. QPR Net


October 2005 - QPR1st Minutes/Report from Meeting with QPR Board reps Friday 21st October 2005
ABC loan
We asked the question if The ABC Corporation are connected with any of the Monaco consortiums or the investors behind them. GP and AC seemed to find this amusing and stated categorically that ABC and the Monaco groups are not the same!
GP and CP explained they had no more clue than us as to who was behind ABC. There is very little copy correspondence in the QPR offices in relation to the loan. CP advised that he did not know if any arrangement fee or commission was paid on the loan when originally set up. CP also stated that at the beginning of each financial year on 1st June the figures showed a £1million loss. It is hoped that ABC may accept early repayment of the loan, which will be re financed with a more traditional identifiable lender.
We asked GP if there were any update on this, and if so would he be able to tell us with which banks the club are hoping to renegotiate with. GP stated that so far there have been talks with two banks, one of which would offer an interest rate of 6.5, whilst the other would offer 7%. He is unable to inform us at the time being as to which banks they have been talking to but CP said if they could get the loan renegotiated with a traditional institution, they would feel safer. He also said that on such a renegotiated deal, £300,000 per year in interest charges could be saved which could be directed to repaying the £10 million originally borrowed.
When asked about any fee charges for early repayment by ABC and CP said it would be negotiable.
And what about any new bank, what kind of security would they look at in order to protect their money? It was stated that any bank would secure a charge on the assets i.e. the ground.
And is there any truth in the rumour that the club have been behind in its payments to the ABC Corporation we asked? Absolutely not replied GP. QPR1st

September 8, 2005 - LSA - REPORTED STATEMENTS FROM LSA & QPR 1st
".....This Thursday GP is going to meet some bankers to try and borrow money at an interest rate of 6% in order to pay off ABC. If he is successful that would save QPR £400k a year..." QPR1st

September 2005 QPR 1st 0 Minutes/Report from Meeting with Club/Board Thursday 15th September 2005 -
ABC Loan – GG asked for some clarification regarding the ABC loan and the Board's thoughts regarding it and if whether there had been any recent news relating to the comments made by GP about the possibility of the renegotiating of it? GP responded by saying that he/they “are currently in negotiations with a top bank looking at the possibility of getting it renegotiated at a rate of 6.5%”. GG spoke about the early redemption penalties and asked if GP could give any hints as to the terms, conditions and how long a period we would be talking about regarding a possible renegotiated deal, but GP said he couldn't comment but hoped to have some good news soon. GP stated that he felt the extra 2% (i.e. from 8% to 10%) was the fault of Ross Jones who he understood agreed to the change of rate at the last hour. QPR1st

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Nielson Netratings

The ‘Online Premiership’ - England’s 20 most popular clubs online by UK audience

The ‘Online Premiership’ comprises 11 clubs from the current Premiership, seven from the Championship and one each from League One (Nottingham Forest) and League Two (Bristol Rovers) The current top four Premiership clubs also account for the four most popular clubs online...

Top 20 English Football Club Websites by UK Audience – March 2006
Online
Position Club Unique Audience (000s) Current League Position Current Division
Internet vs. League position

1 Liverpool 393 3 Premiership 􀃒2
2 Manchester United 385 1 Premiership 􀃔1
3 Arsenal 290 4 Premiership 􀃒1
4 Chelsea 215 2 Premiership 􀃔2
5 Tottenham Hotspur 153 9 Premiership 􀃒4
6 Everton 114 6 Premiership 􀃎
7 Wolves 101 25 Championship 􀃒18
8 Leeds United 90 42 Championship 􀃒34
9 Sunderland 83 22 Championship 􀃒13
10 Charlton Athletic 77 19 Premiership 􀃒9
11 Nottingham Forest 75 47 League One 􀃒36
12 Manchester City 67 13 Premiership 􀃒1
13 Queens Park Rangers 63 39 Championship 􀃒26
14 Bristol Rovers 62 75 League Two 􀃒61
15 Newcastle United 61 12 Premiership 􀃔3
16 Leicester City 56 37 Championship 􀃒21
17 Sheffield Wednesday 54 30 Championship 􀃒13
18 Southampton 51 26 Championship 􀃒8
19 West Ham United 50 18 Premiership 􀃔1
20 Blackburn Rovers 48 10 Premiership 􀃔10

Source: Nielsen//NetRatings, NetView UK, home & work data, including Internet applications

E.g. In Mar 06, 393,000 Britons online visited the Liverpool website. Liverpool is currently 3rd in the league meaning they are two places higher in the ‘Online Premiership’ compared to their current league position

“It’s interesting, but perhaps not surprising, to see the monopoly of the four most dominant clubs in England on the pitch replicated on the web. It seems the rest are as unlikely to catch them online as they are in the league.
However, it’s encouraging to see the strong online performance of clubs much lower down the league, showing that the depth of the fan-base isn’t always aligned with how successful a club is on the pitch.”

ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTES
Please source all information to Nielsen//NetRatings or NetRatings
Please note that ACNielsen and Nielsen are both separate, unrelated companies and should NOT be quoted
when sourcing the attached data. If an abbreviated name is required then please use NetRatings
For further information, please contact:
Alex Burmaster, European Internet Analyst: Tel: 020 7014 0597 / 0780 3131144 / aburmaster@netratings.com

Link

[QPR's Official Website can be viewed at QPR

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ABC spells trouble for five more years
By Ben Kosky - Kilburn Times - May 30, 2007

QPR chairman Gianni Paladini has revealed that the club could be saddled with their crippling ABC loan until 2012 - unless new investors come forward within weeks.

Rangers have been struggling to pay off the Panamanian-based company for the last five years, when a loan of £10m enabled the club to come out of administration.

But, after the collapse of a proposed deal with Oldham chairman Simon Blitz, Paladini has issued a desperate plea for alternative finance to help him renegotiate the ABC payments.

"Time is very short," the Rs chairman told the Times. "The conditions with ABC are that if we don't do anything in one month, the deal is set for another five years.

"The rate of interest is going up to 11.59 per cent. We need somebody with a lot of money, who can buy off the ABC loan - if anyone is capable of rearranging the deal, I want to hear from them.

"The door is open and this is the time, if there's anybody out there with QPR at heart, to come in. The club is in better condition now than it's been for a long time.

"I've tried, the rest of the board have tried, shareholders have tried and Bill Power tried when he was here - it's not easy. We need people who are serious, not a waste of time."

As proof of the club's financial recovery, Paladini points to the figures recently released in the annual report of QPR Holdings Ltd, showing a £636,000 increase in turnover for the 2005-06 season.

Also, Rangers anticipate an increase of at least 1,000 on last year's season ticket sales, and have made significant savings after the exits of higher wage earners such as Marc Bircham, Kevin Gallen and Paul Furlong.

Most importantly, perhaps, the QPR chairman insists that selling star man Lee Cook - inaccurately reported as a condition of the intended Blitz deal - is in no way a financial necessity.

"Cook was never an issue," stressed Paladini. "We had an agreement with the Americans that they would buy the ABC loan, plus put another £3m into the club.

"It was a fantastic deal for us, everything was set for them to come in and I asked them to put down a deposit. I was trying to protect the deal for QPR and I asked them to make sure everything was above board.

"It was nothing to do with selling Cook. I could easily have balanced the books by selling Cook and [Dexter] Blackstock, but I don't want to do that.

"It would weaken the team. I'm trying to build a team that can take us forward and, with John Gregory, we're going in the right direction. The only way we'll sell Cook is to have an offer we cannot refuse."

He added: "If we were in a dangerous situation financially, we'd be forced to sell him, but we're not in that situation.

"The expenditure on players was killing us, but now we'll have 24 or 25 on the books instead of 40."

With eight players released at the end of last season, Paladini expects four or five signings to be made this summer, ideally English-based players with previous experience of Championship football.

Last summer Rangers brought in largely untried overseas players such as Armel Tchakounte, Adam Czerkas and Egutu Oliseh - none of whom made any significant impact in their brief stays at Loftus Road.

Paladini conceded: "We've learnt from that experience and we're now looking at players who are established in this division, maybe some that have been in the Premiership too.

"To be successful in the Championship, you've got to have some younger players mixed with some who are experienced in this division, like [Danny] Cullip.

"We finished last season in high spirits and if John can bring in the right players, I think we can have a team to be proud of and one that can compete with anybody."

QPR'S pre-season programme is beginning to take shape, with their home game against Scottish double winners Celtic on Sunday July 15 to be followed by a trip to League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday July 28.

The club are also hoping to finalise a Loftus Road clash with neighbours Fulham, likely to be played on August 3 or 4. Kilburn Times

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Former QPR Youth Team Goalie, Tim Sandercombe has been released by Plymouth - Plymouth

Former QPR (and Chelsea and Sunderland) winger, Clive Walker who spent a season at QPR 20 years ago, 1986-1987, turned 50. Walker profile

On This Day....

Six years ago, Nigel Blackburn was appointed QPR Chairman
BBC Blackburn takes charge at QPR

Nick Blackburn has been installed as the new chairman of QPR, following the club's exit from administration last week.
Blackburn was vice-chairman to Chris Wright, and then acting chairman following Wright's resignation last year.
Rangers chief executive David Davies had been strongly tipped to take on the role of chairman, having helped steer the club through its crisis period.
However, Davies will be staying in his current job, while director Ross Jones has taken over as chairman of parent company Loftus Road plc. BBC

pounds 10m offer to link QPR with Wasps - Independent, The (London), May 30, 1996 by STEVE BALE

Combining football and rugby clubs, much touted since rugby union went professional nine months ago, will become reality if Queen's Park Rangers and Wasps accept bids from a music magnate who intends to bring them together at Loftus Road.

Chris Wright, majority shareholder of the television and entertainment group Chrysalis, yesterday tabled an pounds 8m offer to buy the recently relegated football club from Richard Thompson. At the same time he proposed paying pounds 1.75m for a 49.9 per cent stake in Wasps, with another pounds 1m available for players' contracts.

Rangers director Alan Hedges said that Wright's was just one of three offers for the football club. One is fronted by the former Guinness chief, Ernest Saunders.

"I have been a supporter at Loftus Road for 20 years. That's why I want to get involved - because I am a fanatic," Wright said yesterday. He said that Ray Wilkins would definitely continue as manager, and would have money to buy new players.

Wright believed he had the deal "in the bag" two days ago but said that Thompson "changed the parameters - and that usually means asking for more money".

Wasps have asked for 21 days to consider Wright's offer, which is contingent on their playing first-team matches at Loftus Road and using their present facility at Sudbury near Wembley for second-team fixtures for both the football and rugby clubs, though Wright is reportedly interested in developing Sudbury if his QPR interest goes unrequited.

Wright's plan received the immediate endorsement of their captain, the England flanker Lawrence Dallaglio, and the Wasps players.

"The QPR link-up would undoubtedly be good for Wasps," Dallaglio said yesterday. "It would provide us with the best stadium facilities in the country and help us go into the new era of professional rugby in the right environment to produce a trophy-winning side."

He added: "The surface is like a bowling-green and would be fantastic to play on." Quite how long it would stay in such pristine condition is arguable, though, remembering the experience of Cardiff City when the Cardiff rugby league side played at Ninian Park in the early 1980s. Then, the rugby, even without union's churningly intensive scrummaging, rucking and mauling, played havoc with the turf.

That would be just one of the implications that the Football League would want to investigate. "Any member club wishing to share its ground with another sporting activity would need our permission," League spokesman Chris Hull said.

"There would be obvious concerns as to the standard of pitches for League matches if another sport were to be staged on the same ground."

There are also potential problems with the pitch size. On the few occasions rugby has used football facilities - for instance, when the North played New Zealand at Anfield in 1993 - the pitch has had to be shortened in order to accommodate even a truncated in-goal area.

"These proposals not only offer both clubs financial security but also the chance to establish London's premier sporting venue at Loftus Road," Wright said. "We would ensure that Wasps and QPR retain their individual identities but are able to benefit from the huge marketing and commercial opportunities that the joint organisation would provide." Standard

Wigan link, page 27

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BBC - McDonald installed in Glens job
Glentoran have appointed former Northern Ireland captain Alan McDonald as their new manager.
McDonald was assistant to previous boss Paul Millar and had been expected to be part of Roy Walker's backroom team.
Walker was unveiled as the club's new manager last week but was unable to take up the post as he did not hold the required Uefa A Coaching Licence.
Glentoran director of football Tom Dick described the events of recent days as an "absolute unmitigated disaster".
Dick was speaking after McDonald had been given a two-year contract by the Oval board.
The Glentoran official added that he was "very sorry" about how the "board misjudgement" had impacted on Roy Walker.
Dick acknowledged that he was fearful that his friendship with Walker had been affected by recent events.
"It's totally embarrassing and totally disappointing that a football club with the fan base like ours can't come up with a better way of appointing a manager," said the Glentoran official.
"It was allowed to happen because people didn't actually stop and take breath and realise what they were actually doing.
"Roy Walker made the interview panel aware that he didn't have the necessary qualifications but they believed that there was a way of getting around those qualifications. It turned out that there wasn't.
"Roy was a good friend of mine. I hope he'll realise somewhere along the line that no-one set out to personally upset or annoy him.
"I have a lot of respect for Roy and I just think today, if Roy speaks to me again, well, that will show the character of the man."
Dick said that lessons had to be learned but he denied that heads should roll within the Oval boardroom.
New boss McDonald told the assembled media that he had personally asked for Tuesday's press conference to be called.
"I want to put to bed all the negativity that has gone out from this football club over the last eight or nine days," said McDonald.
"I'm the manager of this football club. I'm going away today (with the Northern Ireland Under-21s) and the dust will settle and I will start my job on Monday.
"I will do it on my terms and do it my way. There will be nobody in the background."
Walker is understood to have held discussions with Glentoran officials on Monday.
When contacted on Monday evening, Walker said that he was "considering" his response and would release a statement to the media later this week. BBC

See Also: QPR Report "For Glentoran's ex-QPR Alan McDonald an Eventful Year"

-
Interview on the QPR Official Site with former QPR defender, and now Blackpool stalwart, Ian Evatt.
(And what Evatt was saying about QPR and John Gregory back in January.)

QPR Official Site - EVATT'S REUNION
"...Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk this morning.... Evatt was released from QPR by mutual consent at the turn of the year, but he's settled into life well with the Seasiders ...."I struggled to settle in London, but QPR are a good Club and I'm looking forward to returning to Loftus Road with Blackpool next season,'' he said.
"John Gregory obviously made a big impact there last season and although things didn't work out for me, I don't hold any grudges and I wish the Club all the best.
"I'm still very good friends with Cooky (Lee Cook) and I know Bolds (Adam Bolder) quite well through my time at Derby, so it will be nice to see those two again.''
"I struggled to settle in London, but QPR are a good Club and I'm looking forward to returning to Loftus Road with Blackpool next season.''.....'' QPR

What Ian Evatt was saying in January:

IAN EVATT The Times Evatt proves to be Wise signing Ian Whittell
Blackpool 1 Norwich City 1
".......“QPR bought my contract out at the start of January, I’d had a good loan spell here and was more than happy to sign,” Evatt said. “But I was disappointed and felt let down a bit by how QPR treated me, especially towards the end.
“You just have to hold your head up and keep battling away and I’ve proved today I can play at Championship level, most of the lads have done. Going for promotion, as we are, that has got to give you confidence...” Times

Dail Mail Leveller Evatt sends message to Gregory - By COLIN WOOD - Blackpool 1 Norwich 1
Ian Evatt clearly hopes his rescue act for Blackpool will come to the attention of Queens Park Rangers manager John Gregory and everyone at Loftus Road....
The tall, 25-year-old central defender feels he has no cause to be grateful to Gregory and QPR, who paid him off before he made his loan to Blackpool a permanent move this month.
Evatt played under Gregory for more than a year at Derby and admitted that he felt his old boss had treated him with "a lack of common courtesy".
Speaking of the latest parting, Evatt said: "He got sacked at Derby while I was there. Having known him a while it's disappointing that I didn't even get a phone call. I felt let down, the way I was treated at QPR towards the end. A few players will say the same thing. I did not speak to John Gregory, full stop."
But after netting his first goal for Blackpool - "the most important I've ever scored" - he doesn't intend to let that bitterness stop him enjoying his time ahead.His sights are set on promotion to the Championship and a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup - a stage the club last reached 17 years ago..."
Mail

Guardian -Evatt settles the scores of a season Louise Taylor at Bloomfield Road
"... afterwards Blackpool's villain-turned-hero displayed greater enthusiasm for deconstructing Gregory than discussing the rematch. "I was bitterly disappointed by the way it ended at QPR; I felt a bit let down," said Evatt, who joined Blackpool, where he spent the early part of the season on loan, for nothing this month after QPR terminated his contract. "I didn't get one phone call from anyone at QPR to explain what was happening. And John Gregory didn't speak to me, full stop. That hurt but I've just got to hold my head up and try and get back into the Championship with Blackpool," added the 25-year-old who, although already borrowed by Grayson when Gregory took charge at Loftus Road, believed their earlier association at Derby County entitled him to a debrief, if not a second chance.
Things went badly wrong for the centre-half almost from the moment QPR's former manager, Ian Holloway, paid Chesterfield £150,000 for him and said he was the club's "new Glenn Roeder". Evatt's decent distribution failed to compensate for a lack of pace and a string of mishaps. Grayson, though, detected potential and Evatt has vindicated this by playing an important role in Blackpool's emergence as promotion contenders...." Guardian

Also: Evatt - Telegraph Evatt proves worth to Blackpool peers - By Peter Gardner Telegraph

-
SEPTEMBER 2006

The month began with Waddock in charge and ended with John Gregory in control. Inbetween there was the "grudge" match against Ian Holloway's Plymouth; the disappointment of a loss at Colchester and the cup loss at Port Vale. With QPR at the very bottom of the Championship table, John Gregory came in to replace Gary Waddock who was initially demoted to Gregory's Assistant. Waddock's QPR Managerial Record: 3 wins in 22 games in charge (and 1 win in last 19 games in charge.) Meanwhile assistant manager, Alan McDonald with a long QPR history, was "terminated." The season ended with John Gegory winning his first two games. Jimmy Smith joined QPR from Chelsea, initially on a month loan. Rowlands signed a new contract. Tommy Doherty went out on loan to Wycombe. And Chairman Paladini made a statement about - and demanded action from - the fan magazine, 'A Kick Up The Rs:'
[See Also: QPR Report - Season in Review - August 2006]

SEPTEMBER 2006 RESULTS
09-Sep-06 A Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 (1-1) Blackstock
12-Sep-06 H Birmingham City L 0-2 (0-1)
16-Sep-06 A Colchester United L 1-2 (0-2) Brown(og)
+ CUP GAME: PORT VALE 3 QPR 2
23-Sep-06 H Hull City W 2-0 (0-0) Jones 60; Blackstock 80
30-Sep-06 A Southampton W 2-1 (2-1) Blackstock 34; Jones 40
RESULTS

At the beginning of the month, there were press reports about Premiership Teams wanting QPR's Nick Ward.
QPR's Ward cools Fulham talk tribalfooball.com - September 04, 2006
QPR midfielder Nick Ward has played down talk of a move to Fulham.
Fulham boss Chris Coleman is already tracking the young Aussie after he only joined QPR over the summer.
"I haven't heard anything official so I've just got to keep playing well," he told the Daily Telegraph."If I was in a little town it would be a bit harder to adjust, I think it's good being in London it's not too lonely, there's always something to do to keep yourself busy and you're in a shop window.

"Us and Luton Town are the only London clubs that aren't in the EPL."
Tribal Football

The month began with a draw at Plymouth and a number of rememberances by Ian Holloway about his time at QPR and the circumstances under which he left (along with Tim Breaker and Gary Penrice, both subsequently at Plymouth.)

The Plymouth game was followed by a 0-2 home defeat to Birmingham, leaving Waddock's QPR near the bottom.

League Table
Leeds 6 7
Sheffield Wed 7 7
Colchester 7 7
Leicester 7 7
Sunderland 6 6
QPR 7 6
Hull 7 4

The Birmingham defeat was then followed by a 2-1 loss at Colchester (at the time not knowing how well "Little" Colchester would end up doing this season). QPR sank to the bottom of the table and Waddock was highly critical:
lchester 2 QPR 1...QPR Bottom

Waddock's Comments - Official Site
Gary Waddock didn't mince his words and called on his men to show pride and passion.

Rangers found themselves 2-0 down at half time and pulled a goal back thanks to a Colchester own goal, and Waddock was not a happy man.
Harking back to his days as a player, the Rangers manager asked his men to take a good look at themselves in the mirror tonight.
"I don't know where to start, where was the pride? Where was the passion?
"I wasn't the best player, but in mine and Alan McDonald's day we knew what it meant to wear the shirt.
"I'm getting sick of coming out here and talking about good football, and I'm sure the fans are as well. I'd rather play the sort of football that wins games.
"All I know is, we're bottom of the table and I don't like it one bit.
"We didn't improve in the second half in my opinion; we were bad from start to finish.
"We had injuries and that's not what this performance was down to. All that proves to me is that those who filled in didn't do enough to nail down a spot.
"Myself and Alan McDonald both said the same thing to the players after the game, they need to take a long, hard look at themselves."
QPR Official http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~898396,00.html

The Colchester game was followed by the Port Vale cup debacle, with QPR knocked out of the cup by Port Vale, 3-2 in what turned out to be Waddocks final game in charge of QPR. The next day (although the job was supposedly decided before the Port Vale game), Waddock was out (actually reassigned to assistant manager) and John Gregory was in.


Waddock's Managerial Record-
Garry Waddock's Managerial Record in the Championship since he took over at QPR - First as Acting/Caretaker manager and then in the summer as permanent manager.

3 wins in 22 games. One win in the past 19 games.
2005/06 Played 14: 2 wins 5 draws 7 Lost
2006/2007: Played 8: 1 Win, 3 Draws, 3 Losses

2005/2006
W - QPR 1-0 Millwall 11-02-2006
L - C Palace 2-1 QPR 14-02-2006
W - Sheff Utd 2-3 QPR 25-02-2006
D - QPR 0-0 Wolves 04-03-2006
D - Sheff Wed 1-1 QPR 11-03-2006
D - QPR 1-1 Brighton 18-03-2006
D - Cardiff 0-0 QPR 25-03-2006
L - QPR 1-2 Stoke 29-03-2006
L - QPR 1-2 Crewe 01-04-2006
L - Burnley 1-0 QPR 08-04-2006
D - QPR 1-1 Derby 15-04-2006
L - Norwich 3-2 QPR 17-04-2006
L - QPR 1-2 Watford 22-04-2006
L - Reading 2-1 QPR 30-04-2006

2006/2007
L - Burnley 2-0 QPR 05-08-2006
D - QPR 2-2 Leeds 08-08-2006
W - QPR 2-0 Southend 12-08-2006
D - Preston 1-1 QPR 19-08-2006
L - QPR 1-3 Ipswich 25-08-2006
D - Plymouth 1-1 QPR 09-09-2006
L - QPR 0-2 Birmingham 12-09-2006
L - Colchester 2-1 QPR 16-09-2006

QPR OFFICIAL SITE John Gregory Takes Over at QPR
-OFFICIAL SITE - GREGORY APPOINTED
John Gregory has been appointed as QPR First Team Manager with immediate effect.

Gary Waddock will now work under the former Aston Villa boss in an Assistant Manager's role.

In an exclusive interview with www.qpr.co.uk, Chairman Gianni Paladini revealed his delight at the appointment: "It's a fantastic scoop for the Club.
"John is a proven manager at the highest level and is very eager to get back in to the managerial game.
"He's sat down with Gary and talked everything through and the situation is perfect as we look to climb the Championship table.
"I'd like to wish the pair of them the very best in their new roles.''

Gregory - who has been out of the game since leaving Derby County in 2003 - commented: "I'm back in the hot-seat and it's a huge challenge.
"QPR are very close to my heart and it's a fantastic opportunity for me.
"This is a job I can very much get my teeth into and I'm relishing the challenge that lies ahead.
"Winning matches is what matters most in the business and we aim to do that, starting Saturday.''
Waddock said: "It's the right decision for the club, I'm just thankful that Gianni thinks enough of me to keep me here as Assistant Manager.
"I look forward to working with John, we both played together under Terry Venables and have the same work ethic.
"I'll learn a lot from him and I'm sure that this appointment will benefit the club I love."
QPR Official Site

BBC - Gregory appointed as new QPR boss

Gregory makes his return after three-and-a-half years
Queens Park Rangers have unveiled John Gregory as their new manager, with former boss Gary Waddock handed the job of first-team coach.
Former Aston Villa boss Gregory, 51, returns to management three-and-a-half years after leaving Derby.
Waddock replaced the sacked Ian Holloway in February and was handed the position full-time in the summer.
But the former QPR midfielder has struggled and Gregory takes over with the club bottom of the Championship.
QPR have won just one league game this season and were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Port Vale on Tuesday evening.
Gregory, a close friend of Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini, began his managerial career at Portsmouth and he also had a spell at Plymouth.
He took over at Wycombe Wanderers in October 1996, where he helped the team avoid relegation and remained in charge for two years.
The former England midfielder took over at Villa in the 1997/98 season and during the four years under Gregory's management Villa never finished outside the top eight in the Premiership.
He has also managed Derby and has been out of management since leaving the Rams in March 2003.


Gregory Warns of Relegation Fight & Notes Finances-
TEAMTALK Gregory warns of tough times ahead

John Gregory has warned QPR they face "a serious relegation threat" after succeeding Gary Waddock as manager at Loftus Road.

The former Aston Villa and Derby boss has signed a contract until the end of the season with Rangers, with the option of a one-year rolling contract to follow if he does well.

Gregory takes over with Rangers bottom of the Championship and out of the Carling Cup - and he urged the players to show more heart in the battles that lie ahead.

"There is a serious threat of relegation at this club," Gregory said. "I saw them knocked out of the Carling Cup at Port Vale last night.

"Some of the players turned up - but quite a few of them did not bother going.

"Every player will have a fresh chance to impress me, and that is what they are here to do.

"I still have lots of points to prove to myself - although not to anyone else. I hope I can improve the fortunes of the team."

Waddock was relieved of his duties after meeting Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini - a close friend of Gregory - after the 3-2 defeat at Vale Park.

During the reigns of Ian Holloway and Waddock, there was considerable speculation regarding how much influence Paladini exerted over team selection and transfer policy - but Gregory made it clear he would tolerate no such interference.

The 51-year-old continued: "The training ground is the one place where I do not want anyone to interfere with my work.

"That is my domain. Having success is about keeping good habits, working hard and getting things right.

"In terms of transfers, we will work with what we have, although there is the opportunity to make loan signings, which has been a blessing for Championship clubs."

Gregory's friendship with Paladini is likely to raise some eyebrows among Rangers fans, with whom the Italian former agent has never been wholly popular.

Backed by a consortium of Monte Carlo-based businessmen, Paladini took control from former chairman Bill Power in a boardroom coup in September 2005.

Rangers have suffered considerable financial problems in recent seasons and spent the 2001-02 season - before Paladini had become involved with the club - in administration, but Gregory was quick to defend Paladini and fellow director Antonio Caliendo.

He added: "I have known Gianni for some time, and, were it not for he and Antonio, the club might not be here today.

"Our results can dictate the direction of the financial side of things.

"If we can improve on the pitch, more supporters will start coming to watch us, and it will help everything."
Teamtalk

SKYSPORTS
Gregory happy to be back
By Lewis Rutledge - Created on 20 Sep 2006

John Gregory has expressed his delight at returning to management with Queens Park Rangers.

Gregory has been away from football since being sacked by Derby in 2003, but QPR decided to bring him in following a disastrous start to the season.

Having played for QPR in the past Gregory admits he is pained to see the club bottom of The Championship, and he is determined to guide them clear of relegation.

He also explained that his history at the club had been a factor in his decision to return to Loftus Road.

"It feels very good," he told Sky Sports News. "I'm ready to come back to work.

"It (news of the appointment) kind of broke towards the end of the weekend. I spoke to the chairman and the board of directors and we sorted things out very quickly.

"You can start romancing about the past and what it was like during my time here.

"I was here for four-and-a-half seasons and we won almost every week. We had a tremendous success rate, so they were very happy times.

"So that did influence me but it wasn't the overriding issue.

"From a geography point of view it is ideal for me, and just knowing that there is an opportunity here to improve the team, to get us back up the table, and look for Championship safety."

Gregory's predecessor Gary Waddock, who played alongside the 51-year-old at QPR, is to remain at the club as assistant manager.

"It's been a tough time for Gary but he'll cope. He's a really strong personality and I want him to continue to be part of my staff," said Gregory.

"We'll work together and I hope the next time he sits in the big chair he'll be a lot more experienced and he'll have learned from his time in charge here."
Skysports

McDonald Departs QPR: "Given Notice to Terminate his Employment"
-
-
Best of luck to Alan McDonald who deserves a lot of gratitude for his current time of QPR - regardless of whether it may not have worked out as wishes; and for his previous QPR playing career.

QPR Official Site - MACCA DEPARTS
Alan McDonald has been given notice to terminate his employment at Queens Park Rangers Football Club.

After making 483 appearances for the Hoops in a successful 16-year spell as a player, McDonald joined the R's as Caretaker Assistant Manager in February 2006, prior to taking up the position of Assistant Manager towards the end of June.

Chairman Gianni Paladini told qpr.co.uk: "I'd like to thank Alan McDonald for all the hard work he's done here since February.

"He's been a great servant for this Club, both as a player and in his role as Assistant Manager, and I wish him all the best for the future.''


GREGORY'S FIRST GAME: VICTORY AT HOME TO HULL

QPR: P Jones,Bignot, Rehman, Stewart, Rose (Kanyuka 46), Rowlands, Bailey (Lomas 64), Bircham (Ward 64), Cook, R Jones, Blackstock.
Subs: Royce, Baidoo.
Scorers: R Jones 60, Blackstock 80
Bookings: R Jones 30, Rehman 72, P Jones 85

Hull City: Myhill, Dawson, Ashbee, Turner, Parkin, Bridges (Forster 66), Collins, Livermore (Marney 74), Mills, Fagan, France (Yeates 66).
Subs: Duke, Thelwell.
Bookings: Collins 53, Mills 62, Livermore 68
Referee: D Deadman
Attendance: 11,381


In the aftermath of the Hull victory came:Paladini Taking Legal Action re "A Kick Up The Rs" Publication
-
Official Site-CLUB STATEMENT

Statement by Gianni Paladini on the recent edition of 'A Kick Up The Rs:'

The publication 'A Kick Up The Rs' has recently published a deeply misleading, inaccurate and scandalous article about myself and Queens Park Rangers FC.
A number of serious allegations have been made in that publication which are not true. The publication failed to contact myself or anyone else at the Club to verify their allegations.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, I have been reluctantly forced to take legal action. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitors.
I expect a comprehensive retraction and apology from the publication for publishing these falsehoods. If they are not prepared to provide that, the matter will be dealt with by the courts.
I am sorry it must come to this, but in order for me to be able to defend myself from such blatant and hurtful untruths, I have no alternative than to take this action.
I shall make no further comment on this matter until either the apology and retraction has been received or legal proceedings are concluded." QPR http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~902567,00.html

Friday, September 29, 2006

Two Supporters Groups Issue Statements re AKUTRs & Club's Response-
In mid-September, the fanzine, AKUTRs came out with its latest issue in which a number of assertions were made. After remaining silent on the matter, for about two weeks, on September 25 the club issued:
QPR Statement - Statement by Gianni Paladini on the recent edition of 'A Kick Up The Rs:'

In reaction to the Club's statement, two Fan organizations, first QPR1st and then LSA issued statements:

-
QPR1st - September 27th Statement - AKUTR's and The Club
September 27, 2006

"QPR1st supports the right of supporters to express their views in a variety of ways including fanzines and message boards.
We acknowledge that the Club also has the right to challenge what it considers to be unfair or inaccurate comments in fanzines through the official site, the programme, fans forums or by requesting a 'right to reply' within the fanzines themeselves.
Nevertheless fanzines have limited resources with which to defend themselves against legal action and therefore 'threats to sue' can be perceived as an act of intimidation. We would urge the Club to withdraw such threats and to seek to redress what they regard as a wrong through other less confrontational means. The Trust would be happy to act as a mediator between the Club and AKUTRs in the belief that QPR is at its strongest when it is united"
QPR1st

LSA SECRETARY'S STATEMENT - September 29, 2006
The LSA offers wholehearted support for Dave Thomas and AKUTR's right to freedom of speech. We deplore the actions of the club in taking legal action which could kill off one of the most respected fanzines in England.
AKUTR's has played a crucial role in keeping our club alive in difficult times and we would be poorer without it.
We agree that a right of reply should be given to the club to answer the points raised in the last issue. We would be happy to play a role in ensuring that these matters are dealt with without recourse to legal action against one of the most respected supporters of our beloved club.
However if the club pursues with legal action against Dave we will offer wholehearted support in any manner we deem fit, including publishing material and raising a financial fighting fund to defend AKUTR's in court.
JOHN REID
SECRETARY
LSA
LSA Site

Staff Changes at QPR-
[At the current time, despite the reported coaching staff departures, the official site's club directory continues to reflect no changes other than Gregory in; Waddock Assistant Manager and Mcdonald departed.]


Waddock role remains uncertain
27 September 2006
By Ben Kosky Wembley & Kingsbury Times - 27 September 2006

NEW QPR boss John Gregory admits he has yet to decide exactly what role his predecessor Gary Waddock will fill at Loftus Road.
Officially, Waddock has been appointed Gregory's number two - but the incoming manager has hinted that he may shake up the coaching structure during the coming weeks.
Alan McDonald, who had been assistant manager under Waddock, left the club within 24 hours of Gregory's appointment and the Rangers boss said: "I don't work with friends, I work with people who are good at what they do.
"Gary's going to be part of my staff, which means he'll work with me on the training ground on a daily basis and he'll be in the dugout on Saturday afternoon, unless I decide to use him somewhere else in the coaching set-up where he's more suitable.
"I think it's got to be like that - I've never worked with Gary before as a coach and I want to find out his strengths, harness those strengths and use them in the right areas.
"I want to assess what everybody here does, but I haven't dismissed the fact that I might want to bring in three or four of my own people."

Reserve team manager Justin Skinner - appointed just three months ago - and assistant physio Bobby Bacic have also left the club.
And Gregory hopes that Waddock, who spent just under eight months in charge of the first team, can take heart from his own initial experience of management - an unsuccessful year with Portsmouth and an even shorter stint at Plymouth.
The QPR manager returned to coaching with Leicester before resuming his managerial career at Wycombe Wanderers, followed by four years at Aston Villa.
He recalled: "I was 34 years of age and thought I had all the answers, but I failed miserably as a manager, got sacked and was out of work for six or seven months.
"Brian Little took me to Leicester as a coach and I sat and watched him for five years. I learnt so much from him and by the time I left to manage Wycombe I was confident in my own ability.
"I hope Gary will stay on and learn. It's a painful experience, what he's been through and it will hurt - but he's basically got a second chance.
"Even though things didn't work out the way he wanted, he can take a back seat and maybe take things in. He's QPR through and through and I want people like that alongside me."
Whether or not he initiates further changes to the coaching staff, Gregory has already outlined his intention to stamp his mark on Rangers' training ground culture - with the emphasis on winning.
And the manager will even be happy to see training ground punch-ups on a regular basis, explaining: "I love to see people that want to punch each other on the training ground and I don't mind players getting into a ruck.
"If you've not had a fight on the training ground in a month, you've got a problem - either you're too nice or they're too nice. If people want to win badly, that's infectious - having a fall-out in the dressing room is because you care.
"It's all about winning habits and, if I say so myself, that's what I'm good at - getting people into good habits.
"I don't want mobile phones going off all the time and people getting off the bus with a headset on. I don't have ghetto blasters or any of that in the dressing room - you're here to play football and win matches, so get switched on.
"That needs a drastic tidy-up. I like everything just so - if all the chairs aren't facing the same way, it irritates me."
Gregory has signed an initial nine-month contract at Loftus Road and added: "I want to stay as long as it takes, but if I'm not successful, Gianni [Paladini] probably won't want me around and that's fine - I like working with a challenge.
http://www.wktimes.co.uk/content/brent/wembleychronicle/sport/story.aspx?brand=WKCOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportwkc&itemid=WeED27%20Sep%202006%2011%3A27%3A57%3A390

Wednesday, September 27, 2006
QPR's New Loan Signing from Chelsea, Teenage Midfielder, Jimmy Smith
QPR Official Site QPR are delighted to announce the one month loan signing of Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith.

The 19 year old today (Wednesday) met up with his team-mates for the first time and is expected to be involved in the first team squad for the trip to St Mary's on Saturday.

The England Under-19 international - who is an attack-minded midfielder - made his first team debut for the current Premiership Champions in the final game of the 2005/06 season...
Official Site


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - ROWLY'S DELIGHT

Martin Rowlands has put pen to paper on a two year contract extension with the R's.
Rowlands - whose current deal was due to expire at the end of the 2006/07 campaign - is now contracted to the Club until the summer of 2009....
To date, he's made 106 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the 27 year-old revealed his delight at securing his long term future: "I've signed for a further two years and I couldn't be more delighted. "I feel at home here and with John Gregory coming in, it's great to be part of a new era. "The new gaffer was keen for me to put pen to paper as soon as possible, so now it's up to me to repay the faith he's shown in me.''
R's Chairman Gianni Paladini was equally as ecstatic with the news, telling qpr.co.uk: "It's fantastic. The negotiations took a while, but it was certainly worth the wait. "He is a key player here and has a huge part to play in our future. Yet again, it signals the Board's intentions of securing the long term future of one of our star players. Official

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - STEWART CALLED UP BY JAMAICA

Damion Stewart has been called up by Jamaica for their forthcoming friendly international against Canada. The 26 year-old defender ...is in line to earn his 37th cap for his country when the Reggae Boyz line up against Canada in Kingston on Sunday 8th October.... Official

Second Victory: Southampton 1 QPR 2

SOUTHAMPTON Davis 5, Makin 6, Baird 6, Pele 6 (Jones 5), Bale 7, Wright 6 (Dyer 6), Licka 5, Viafara 7, Skacel 6, Rasiak 5, Wright-Philips 6 (Sermon 6).

QPR Jones 7, Bignot 6, Rehman 7, STEWART 8, Rose (Kanyuka 6), Rowlands 7, Bircham 6 (Lomas 6), Bailey 6 (Smith 6), Cook 6, Jones 7, Blackstock 7.


DAMION STEWART
For Complete Archive re September 2006, see QPR Report Postings: September 2005

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It's been an eventful past fifteen month for ex-QPR Irish International Defender, Alan McDonald as he's gone from incoming QPR saviour to apparent incoming Glentoran saviour. QPR's most capped-international player with over 50 caps returned to QPR last February as Gary Waddock's assistant manager.
Then this past September, McDonald was fired along with Waddock. As the Official site opening sentence phrased it "Alan McDonald has been given notice to terminate his employment at Queens Park Rangers Football Club." Statement McDonald returned to Ireland, became coach at Glentoran. And now this.
Despite his time at QPR, McDonald proclaimed his continued affection for QPR "It hasn't changed my affection for QPR. That will never happen.
It was always the first result I looked for before I came back and will always be the first the result I look for." Interview

February 2006 - McDonald Returns to QPR

March 2006: McDonald Extends his QPR stay

Sept 2006: Terminated by QPR

October 2006: McDonald Interview - No hard feelings

January 2007: McDonald for Newry?

Feb 2007 McDonald appointed Coach Glentoran

May 2007 - McDonald Set to be Appointed Glentoran Manager

May 2007: McDonald at Glentoran

May 2007 - McDonald to stay under new manager as Coach

Wikipedia

SEE ALSO: RON NORRIS/QPRNet 2002 Interview with McDonald

Belfast Telegraph - Big Mac the man for Glens crisis
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 By Stuart McKinley
Alan McDonald will be unveiled as the new Glentoran manager at a press conference this lunchtime.
And straight away he will set about moving the club forward from the crisis that has surrounded the Oval for the last five days.
The east-Belfast outfit put themselves in the middle of a UEFA Licence problem when they named Roy Walker as successor to Paul Millar last Thursday.
In order to maintain that licence and play in Europe this summer the club has instead turned to McDonald, who is a fully qualified coach with the necessary badges, unlike Walker.
McDonald leaves Belfast with the Northern Ireland under-21 squad later today for Friday's European Championship clash in Moldova, but will put pen to paper on what is understood to be a two-year deal before he boards the plane.
He has been something of an innocent bystander while the managerial mess has been untangled by the club and on Friday he was asked if he wanted to take over the reigns.
Meanwhile, Walker held discussions with Glentoran officials yesterday but will not be making a statement until later this week.
The former Crusaders and Glenavon manager is "considering" his response. Belfast Telegraph

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For some QPR supporters (and probably some QPR Board Members) ABC has been on their mind this week.
A year ago, there were two struggling Championship sides, both with massive loans at high interest rates, from the mysterious "ABC Corporation." Over the past few years, both clubs' (varying) boards and their supporters spoke frequently about their debts to ABC and even about their "mystery" about who was behind the ABC Group.
And then the teams diverged both on and off the field. In 2005-06, the two teams struggled and both finished on 50 points (with Derby having a one goal better goal difference than QPR - 2005-06 Table This season, after last season's struggle, Derby County finished third and earlier this week won their playoff final at Wembley to reach the Premiership. Derby Count have thus won the sixty Million Pound "Jackpot" - See "The Times - Derby Gamble Hits the Jackpot"
QPR, for their part, struggled last season and they struggled even more this season, and just escaped the drop to "League One."
Off the field: Derby County got out of their ABC Loan, by getting new loans from more local sources and paying off the old ABC loans, while QPR supporters and board have spoken frequently about the ABC Loan (10 million pound at 10% payable 10 years after the loan was taken on), about trying to get new lenders, but at this writing remain in debt to ABC (and there remains a mystery about exactly who ABC are)
For QPR: the ABC is attaining is a certain urgency since according to "reports" and "common knowledge" at the five year mark of the loan (which has just been reached), there is supposedly an ability on the part of ABC to raise the interest rate on the loan; and an ability by QPR to pay off the debt (if they can get the loan from someone else at a lower interest rate).
The irony of course is that QPR are managed by the former manager of Derby County, John Gregory. And the Chairman of QPR, Gianni Paladini at one time (before buying into QPR), was interested in buying into Derby County.
The latest QPR pronouncement re ABC came earlier this month when the club made a statement re the ABC Loan and Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz
"...Queens Park Rangers FC have been involved in discussions with Simon Blitz about possibilities of re-financing the ABC loan at a better interest rate for QPR.
As part of those negotiations, and by way of a down-payment to demonstrate his interest in assisting with this in the future, Mr Blitz agreed to loan QPR £500,000.
It was agreed that the loan was not in violation of the Football Association or Football League rules.
Mr Blitz, as the lending party, assured QPR that he was satisfied, having received his own legal advice, that the loan did not violate any football rules.
The loan, and the security for the loan was not hidden and was made public by the registration of the security at Companies House.
Contrary to press reports, the loan was not made to help QPR with its payroll, but was made in the context of the ABC re-financing discussions.
Having taken further advice, and having discovered that Simon Blitz did not have the prior written authorisation of the F.A. to make this loan, QPR has agreed to pay the loan back forthwith.
QPR would like to assure its supporters that it has no intention of selling Lee Cook, and the fact that the proceeds of any future sale was offered as a security does not suggest this.
Mr Blitz had no say in any potential sale of Lee Cook, and now it is agreed to repay the loan he will not have a security over him.
QPR will continue to work hard to try and re-finance the ABC loan in the near future.
The contents of this statement have been shown to Simon Blitz and agreed by him. It will also been sent to the Football Association. QPR Report

See: QPR Report: May 2007: Almost Five Years Since QPR's ABC Loan, Exit Administration and Takeover Efforts Ended

October 2006: QPR Report: QPR's ABC Loan: What's Known #1
QPR Report - April 2004 re QPR and Derby's ABC Loan

Also: "Clubs in Crisis"

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[Rufus Brevett has announced his retirement from football. Brevett played for QPR from 1991-1998. Brevett was signed from Doncaster about the same time as Darren Peacock and Tillson were signed by Don Howe/Bobby Gould. Wikipedia

ConfGuide - Oxford's Brevett retires
Blue Square Premier side Oxford United have revealed that veteran defender Rufus Brevett decided to retire from football at the weekend.

Manager Jim Smith spoke with the well-travelled left-back on Saturday and said: "Rufus has told me he's packing in the game."

The 37-year-old has made nearly 700 league and cup appearances, most notably in the Premiership for QPR, Fulham and West Ham.

Smith brought him to the club in September last year as back up for Gavin Johnson and the Derby-born defender did well to make the left-back position his own in the absence of Johnson.

Brevett played a big part in the U's reaching the play-offs, although he missed the final two home games of the regular season because of suspension after getting sent off for retaliation in the 1-0 defeat at Northwich Victoria.

He returned as a sub in the final game at York, and he went out on a high note for Oxford, coming off the bench in their 1-0 win at Exeter in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals. He didn't feature in the second leg. Confguide

Oxford Mail - FOOTBALL: Brevett announces retirement
By Jon Murray

THE curtain has come down on one of English football's famous left backs with Oxford United's Rufus Brevett announcing his retirement.

The 37-year-old is hanging up his boots after a magnificent career in which he has made nearly 700 league and cup appearances, most notably in the Premiership for QPR, Fulham and West Ham.

United manager Jim Smith said at the weekend: "Rufus has told me he's packing in the game."

Brevett was in the twilight of his career when Smith brought him to Oxford last September, as back-up for Gavin Johnson, and as someone who would challenge the former Ipswich and Northampton man - who was himself 35 - for the left back position.

Johnson was sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury in early September, and Brevett came in and made the position his own, soon showing quality with the simplicity of his passing and all his experience whenever quick right wingers were up against him.

Johnson did return later though there was little between them, with Brevett arguably the better left back, and Johnson better as a left wingback because he was used to a more forward midfield role.

advertisementBrevett played a big part in the U's reaching the play-offs, although he missed the final two home games of the regular season because of suspension after getting sent off for retaliation in the 1-0 defeat at Northwich on April 6.

He returned as a sub in the final game at York, and he went out on a high note for Oxford, coming off the bench in their 1-0 win at Exeter in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals. He didn't feature in the second leg.

Born in Derby and christened Rupis, though nicknamed Rufus, he was an outstanding and speedy left back when he burst on the scene with Doncaster, where he had been a trainee.

Among his honours were a Division 2 championship medal under Kevin Keegan with Fulham in 1999 and a Division 1 championship medal at Craven Cottage two years later, when Jean Tigana was the manager. QPR

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Update: Alan McDonald to be officially announced tomorrow (Tuesday)

McDonald appointed as Glens boss

Alan McDonald was on Paul Millar's coaching staff
Glentoran has appointed former Northern Ireland captain Alan McDonald as its new manager, BBC Sport understands.
McDonald, capped 52 times, was a coach at the Oval under previous boss Paul Millar and had been expected to form part of Roy Walker's backroom team.

Walker was unveiled as the club's new manager last week but was unable to take up the post as he did not hold the required Uefa A Coaching Licence.

McDonald is thought to have agreed a two-year deal with the Glens.

The Glens are expected to officially unveil McDonald at a press conference which has been called for Tuesday morning.

Walker is understood to have held discussions with Glentoran officials on Monday.

When contacted on Monday evening, Walker said that he was "considering" his response and would release a statement to the media later this week. BBC


Belfast Telegraph - Big Mac set for Glens job
By Stuart McKinley

The shambles surrounding Glentoran's appointment of Roy Walker as manager could have been avoided if the club had fully examined the UEFA Licence criteria before unveiling their new boss.

The east Belfast club thought that by appointing first-team coach Alan McDonald as caretaker manager would overcome the fact that Walker - who was then to be installed before the start of the domestic season - doesn't have the necessary coaching qualifications needed by a club seeking UEFA Licence status.

Indeed, Glentoran Director of Football Tom Dick told the Belfast Telegraph just hours after the appointment of Walker that the club was in the clear.

He said: "Alan McDonald is staying at the club and he has a UEFA 'A' Licence so nothing will be affected.

" Roy Walker won't be on duty in Europe anyway as he is away on a pre-booked holiday. His job doesn't start until the beginning of the season.

" It is not an issue and we wouldn't have appointed him if it had been an issue."

Now, however, it has turned into a serious issue and the Glens have been forced to make a decision, either appoint the manager that they wanted or play in Europe this summer.

In the end the UEFA Cup - or rather the hefty financial reward of at least £50,000 - won.

McDonald will be appointed as manager within the next 48 hours and he will then look to put the events of the last week behind him and lead the club forward.

Walker's lack of coaching badges was no mystery to the Glentoran board though, because he informed them himself in meetings before he accepted the post.

"Glentoran approached me about the position. I had to put some impediments down to the position, one of which was my lack of this UEFA 'A' badge," said Walker.

"The club were aware of that so the process was then for me to enlist in the B course with a view to then getting the A course.

"That didn't seem to be an impediment. It seemed to be that everything was fine and therefore we were able to proceed, so I said yes.

"It is fairly apparent now that because the club are UEFA Licence holders, then the head coach/manager needs to be - not just whilst the club is in Europe but for the duration of that season - an A licence holder."

The consequences for Glentoran if they had placed McDonald in caretaker charge and made Walker manager at a later date during or before the season could have been extremely serious.

UEFA reserve the right to impose whatever punishment they see fit, which can range from withholding all or some of the cash reward for competing in Europe to the extreme of banning a club from taking part in European competition.

Luckily for Glentoran they will never find out just how harsh the punishment could have been and for that they should be thankful. Belfast Times


Belfast Telegraph -Sort it out: Mac -Monday, May 28, 2007 By Stuart McKinley

Glentoran manager in waiting Alan McDonald is desperate to see an end to the mess surrounding the managerial position at the club.

Fans of the east Belfast side have endured a weekend of uncertainty with first Roy Walker being unveiled as the successor to the sacked Paul Millar last Thursday, before it emerged on Saturday that he was unable to take up the post because of UEFA Licence problems.

The Belfast Telegraph revealed last Friday - less than 24 hours after Walker's appointment - that Glentoran were in danger of being thrown out of Europe as Walker doesn't hold the necessary coaching qualifications for the club to maintain its status as licence holders.

Although the club thought they had worked a way around the licencing problems, they were later informed that they would face punishment from UEFA if Walker was brought in for the domestic campaign.

That has now forced them to turn to McDonald - who unlike Walker does possess the coaching qualifications necessary for the UEFA Licence - to lead the team.

Fifty-two times capped former Northern Ireland skipper McDonald has been offered the manager's job and will accept it once the conditions he has laid down are in place.

" There has been a lot going on over the last few days and this needs cleared up quite soon," said McDonald.

"It is an awful situation and has to be sorted out as quickly as possible."

McDonald acts as assistant manager to the Northern Ireland under-21 team and will be out of the country from tomorrow until the weekend as he joins up with the squad for their opening European Championship qualifier in Moldova on Friday.

He was yesterday working with the under-21 players ahead of their departure.

"It was good to get out on the pitch with the boys and clear my head," he said.

"All I had to worry about was coaching and I enjoyed our sessions." Belfast Times

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Football 365 - LEE COOK

"I spoke to my agent the other day and he is keeping me informed of what is going on. If a club comes in and offers the right amount of money, I am probably going to have to move on. It would be an opportunity I would not be able to turn down."
He added: "But if the money is not met and I am still at QPR next season, I am happy to stay here and try to help this team kick on into the Premiership." Soccer 365 and Teamtalk

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Baan picks full-strength Olyroos squad

May 28, 2007 -

Olyroos coach Rob Baan has selected a strong Australian under 23s squad for their crucial final Group D Olympic qualifying match against Jordan in Amman next Wednesday.

Baan has included five overseas-based players in the squad and also welcomes back suspended duo Adrian Leijer and Ruben Zadkovich for the match.

Striker David Williams of Danish club Brondby has been included after missing recent matches due to club commitments and is joined by midfielder Neil Kilkenny (Birmingham City), Nick Ward (Queens Park Rangers), Trent McClenahan (Hereford United) and Aaron Downes (Chesterfield).

The Olyroos will be missing A-League stars Mark Bridge and Nikolai Topor-Stanley through suspension, while Newcastle Jets midfielder Stuart Musialik is still out with a hip injury.

The Olyroos require one point from the match to ensure progression to the third and final stage of qualifying which commences in August.

Australia are three points ahead of Iran, who host Saudi Arabia, with the two matches being played simultaneously.

The Saudis have already qualified while Jordan are out of contention.

Olyroos squad: Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory), Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Adam Casey (Sydney FC), Adam D'Apuzzo (Newcastle Jets), Bruce Djite (Adelaide United), Aaron Downes (Chesterfield, England), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), Neil Kilkenny (Birmingham City, England), Adrian Leijer (Melbourne Victory), Trent McClenahan (Hereford United, England), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Kristian Sarkies (Adelaide United), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Dario Vidosic (Queensland Roar), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Nick Ward (QPR, England), David Williams (Brondby, Denmark), Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney FC).

News

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Early odds for 2007-2008 Championship


QPR's Championship Prospects for next season

SKY BET
Coca Cola Championship 07/08 - Win Outright (Saturday August 18th, 15:00)
Charlton 6/1 Coventry 16/1 Hull 40/1
Sheff Utd 8/1 C Palace 20/1 Burnley 40/1
Wolves 8/1 Cardiff 20/1 Colchester 40/1
Derby 10/1 Preston 20/1 Scunthorpe 50/1
Watford 10/1 Ipswich 20/1 Plymouth 50/1
Southampton 12/1 Sheff Weds 20/1 QPR 50/1
Leicester 14/1 Norwich 25/1 Barnsley 50/1
Stoke 16/1 Bristol City 25/1 Blackpool 50/1

http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvType&id=10003361

Blue Sq.com

Charlton Athletic 6/1 BET Norwich City 22/1 BET
Sheffield United 15/2 BET Plymouth Argyle 28/1 BET
Wolverhampton Wanderers 8/1 BET Burnley 28/1 BET
Watford Ipswich Town 33/1 BET
Southampton 10/1 BET Blackpool 33/1 BET
Leicester City 14/1 BET Bristol City 33/1 BET
Crystal Palace 18/1 BET Queen's Park Rangers 40/1 BET
Stoke City 18/1 BET Colchester United 40/1 BET
Sheffield Wednesday 20/1 BET Hull City 40/1 BET
Preston North End 20/1 BET Scunthorpe United 66/1 BET
Coventry City 20/1 BET Barnsley 80/1 BET
Cardiff City 22/1 BET

Blue Sq.com

Elaboration from Vital Football - Hull

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BBC Gossip citing the Star...Clubcall...Teamtalk are all suggesting a renewed Fulham interest in Lee Cook.

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Belfast Telegraph - Euro licence row sees Roy walking
... and former international ace McDonald's in line to take over

Sunday, May 27, 2007

By Gordon Hanna & Conor McLaughlin
Glentoran were last night facing the prospect of appointing their third manager in little over two weeks.

Former Crusaders and Glenavon supremo Roy Walker was landed with the role on Thursday before news broke that his lack of coaching qualifications could cost the Glens their UEFA Cup place next season.

Our sources indicate that, after getting themselves into a muddle over ways and means of working around the Licences issue, Glentoran bigwigs have realised they were left with just two options - appoint a new boss or pull out of Europe.

They cannot compete in Europe if Walker stays because, despite his considerable knowledge and past successes, he doesn't have any recognised coaching qualifications.

It now appears that First Team Coach Alan McDonald could be set to step into the breach - permanently!

The Glens were awarded their UEFA Club Licence for the 2007/08 season on the understanding that Paul Millar - who was equipped with the necessary badges - would be at the helm.

His sacking almost two weeks ago did not affect Glentoran's Licence, but Walker's appointment most certainly did and the east Belfast side were set to have it revoked, thus excluding them from not only continental competition, but from the Setanta Sports Cup also.

That, in turn, would have impacted upon other Irish League clubs with Cliftonville - currently preparing for next month's InterToto showdown with FC Dinaburg of Latvia - promoted to the UEFA Cup and Lisburn Distillery given just a matter of weeks' notice to take on the Baltic outfit.

Club Licenses are awarded based on a number of criteria, one of which is that the team's Manager or Head Coach must have obtained either a...

- UEFA 'Pro' Diploma

- UEFA 'A' Licence

... and, if he is in possession of neither, must have at least started a UEFA 'A' Licence course.

And Walker, who led Crusaders to the Irish League title in 1995 and 1997, owns none of the above, nor has he obtained the UEFA 'B' Licence required to begin the 'A' course.

Yesterday, as the story began to unfold, he said: "I'm disappointed that presently I am not in a position to take up the offer from Glentoran.

"Myself and Alan [McDonald] were excited about working together and we talked about introducing new players but those plans are now scuppered somewhat.

"There are ways you could be creative around it but I want Glentoran to act with integrity and do everything correctly.

"As I understand it I am unable to be Glentoran manager if there's no way round it."

Rumour had been rife that, in order to combat the problem, Glentoran would appoint 52-times capped McDonald to the managerial role on a temporary basis, with Walker taking over the reins once their Euro excursion came to an end - a tactic which could have thrown up its own problems had the Glens made any sort of real progress in the competition!

McDonald has a 'Pro' Licence and was believed to be on the verge of taking over for a six-week stint, allowing Walker to take over ahead of the CIS Cup kicking off in August.

Director of Football Tom Dick had hinted that might be the case earlier in the week when he explained that: "Roy Walker won't be on duty in Europe anyway as he is away on a pre-booked holiday. His job doesn't start until the beginning of the season.

"Alan McDonald is staying at the club and he has a UEFA licence so nothing will be affected," he said.

"It is not an issue and we wouldn't have appointed him [Walker] if it had been an issue."

Such a move would not have been viewed in a favourable light by UEFA, however, as an IFA spokesman explained to Sunday Life yesterday.

"It would be a dangerous ploy to try and circumvent the regulations," he said.

"Any club found guilty of trying to do so would have UEFA to deal with and the consequences would be grave.

"Expulsion from Europe would be automatic and there would be additional sanctions."

Clubs qualifying for the UEFA Cup are guaranteed in the region of £60,000 - £70,000 and that would be withdrawn.

The IFA source added: "Licences to compete in Europe are granted on the back of certain criteria and are in place for a year.

"There can be no shortcuts. If Glentoran declare that Roy Walker is not the manager/head coach then he could have no say in team selection or team tactics for the next year.

"It's up to Glentoran to clarify exactly what role Roy Walker and Alan McDonald will be playing."

Sunday Life understands that former Northern Ireland international McDonald has been offered the job and is set to give Oval chiefs his answer tomorrow.

Last night, the 43-year-old - who joined the club's coaching staff midway through last season - was remaining tight-lipped about the dramatic twist.

The former QPR star insisted the Manager's job had NOT been offered to him, adding his determination that the situation be resolved as soon as possible.

"I am employed as Glentoran's First Team Coach," he explained, " and that is what I expect to be for the foreseeable future.

"It [the Manager's job] has not been put to me and I expect things will become a lot clearer tomorrow.

"It needs to be sorted out soon."

The Irish Football Association insist that Glentoran were fully advised of the situation BEFORE they appointed Walker to the post. Belfast Telegraph

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Twenty-Five Years ago today, "we wuz robbed!" Despite having Captain Glen Roeder suspended; brilliant striker Clive Allen injured; and star Defender Steve Wicks cup tied. Despite being an early goal down to a Glenn Hoddle penalty...STILL QPR deserved to win the FA Cup replay against Spurs at Wembley on May 27th 1982...But bottom line: Spurs beat QPR 1-0.

Hucker
Neil Fenwick Hazell Gillard
Gregory Waddock Currie Flanagan
Mickelwhite Stainrod
Sub: Burke

See: QPR Report re FA Cup Final
http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/05/quarter-of-century-since-qprs-fa-cup.html

See Wikipedia Memory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cup_Final_1982

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Five years ago today, QPR left the ignomy of administration and started on what fans thought was a new path. There was the cloud of the ABC Loan, with fans wondering why the club had left Administration with a ten million pound debt. Not to mention, fans wondering exactly WHO was behind the ABC Loan. Over the past couple of years especially, there have been repeated reports and statements that QPR were set to refinance this loan at a lower rate than the current 10% (which in theory, could go even higher).

BBC Monday, 27 May, 2002 - Survival boost for QPR
By David McIntyre
BBC Sport - Second Division QPR have been taken out of administration.
The administration order was lifted following a hearing at the High Court on Monday.
Former chairman Chris Wright took a substantial write-off on his loans and handed back a large part of his shareholding in the club a few weeks ago.
We have faced some javascript:void(0)tough decisions and learned some hard lessons
David Davies QPR chief executive
His decision helped enable the repayment of debts to all the Loftus Road club's creditors.
Loftus Road chief executive David Davies said in a statement: "This is wonderful news and the conclusion of one of the darkest periods in our history.
"We have faced some tough decisions and learned some hard lessons.
"These are lessons which many clubs are now having to learn.
"We will come out of this experience in a much stronger position.
Wright retains stake
"Gone are the days when players will be paid excessive wages.
"When we first went into administration, QPR was highlighted as being run on the economics of a madhouse.
"What we have done is bring some sanity to the club."
Wright, the main creditor as well as owner, agreed to accept half of the £6.7m he was owed.
But he has retained a 25% stake in the company as well as ownership of the club's training ground.
Rangers failed to get out of the First Division despite a massive investment resulting from a floatation in the summer of 1996.
They were hard hit the money from 'parachute' payments given to relegated clubs ran out.
With a wage bill already far too big for the First Division the club dropped into Division Two last year and in April 2001 administrators BDO Stoy Hayward were called in.
Transfer embargo lifted
But as many clubs struggle following the collapse of ITV Digital, QPR find themselves in a strong position.
They have not budgeted for television money and have slashed their wage bill.
It has been an awful period for QPR but I'm calling us 'the orange club', because the future is bright
Ian Holloway
QPR manager
Current manager Ian Holloway also has highly-rated players in his squad such as Richard Langley, Clarke Carlisle, Terrell Forbes and Dan Shittu.
Holloway said: "QPR were the first into the tunnel and are coming out of it just as everyone else is going in.
"There must be a lot of worried clubs but we have learned hard lessons and now we are on solid ground at last.
"It has been an awful period for QPR but I'm calling us 'the orange club', because the future is bright."
Holloway will now be looking to add to his squad having been restricted by a transfer embargo, which will be lifted with immediate effect after the club was taken out of administration. BBC

Bucks Free Press - May 31, 2002 On QPR Out of Administration.
QPR on road to cash recovery QPR or to be strictly accurate, parent company Loftus Road plc are out of administration following a High Court ruling on Monday.
The plc and QPR went into administration in April 2001, but following a refinancing package finalised by the directors last week, the company has been able to pay off its creditors.
Chief executive David Davies said: "This is wonderful news and the conclusion of one of the darkest periods of our history. Having the administration order lifted marks the end of more than a year of tough financial decisions and hard work.
"This would not have been possible were it not for the commitment of coaches, players and backroom staff and the hard work of our administrators."
Mr Davies said, however, that one of the major factors in pulling the club back from the brink had been the supporters: "None it would have been possible without the support of the QPR fans. After seeing the club placed in administration, relegated and then lose more than half of our squad, they stuck by us in record numbers and continue to do so."
He went on to say that he felt the hard lessons learned would benefit the club in the future - "gone are the days when players will be paid excessive wages" - at a time when many clubs are on the verge of calling in the administrators. In the past, QPR had been highlighted as being run "on the economics of the madhouse."
But Mr Davies warned that although coming out of administration was a major step forward, much remained to be done on and off the field, although he was optimistic that the hard work of manager Ian Holloway and others would bear fruit.
"We don't suddenly have a magic wand to wave and make everything better. We are not suddenly flush with cash. With hard work and passion, we will improve this club but by bit and season by season.
"Ian Holloway has restored pride to the team and brought together a hungry and talented bunch of players. With the handcuffs of administration finally removed, we can start to build a solid future for QPR." Bucks Free Press

See Past QPR Reports compilations re ABC Loan:

October 27, 2006 - QPR's ABC Loan: What's Known

QPR Statement re Blitz Loan, ABC Refinancing

July 05, 2006 - QPR's Ongoing 10% per-annum ABC Loan & QPR's Efforts to Deal with it

April 14, 2006 - ABC, QPR & Derby County - Looking Back

April 18, 2007 - Approaching the Five Year Mark Since QPR's ABC Loan

Almost Five Years Since QPR's ABC Loan, Exit Administration and Takeover Efforts Ended

See Also:
QPR1st - May 2002
Clubs in Crisis - QPR
Old LSA News
Boardroom Blues

BBC - May 30, 2002 - Blackburn takes charge at QPR
Nick Blackburn has been installed as the new chairman of QPR, following the club's exit from administration last week.
Blackburn was vice-chairman to Chris Wright, and then acting chairman following Wright's resignation last year.
Rangers chief executive David Davies had been strongly tipped to take on the role of chairman, having helped steer the club through its crisis period.
However, Davies will be staying in his current job, while director Ross Jones has taken over as chairman of parent company Loftus Road plc. BBC

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As of June 6 -

JUNE

June 13 - Carling Cup First Round Draw Made (Carling Cup Games to be played Week of August 13)

June 14 - 2007-2008 Fixtures Come Out - Announcement

June 15 - QPR Holdings AGM - Latest Set of Accounts- Loss of Over 3 million Pounds

JULY

July ? Players Report back to training

July 15: Celtic Friendly at Loftus Road - Game

July 28: Wycombe Friendly (at Wycombe) - Announcement

AUGUST

August 3 - Fulham Friendly at Loftus Road (8pm) Announcement

August 11 - New Season Begins: Opening Game

At some point??? - QPR Still have a date with the FA over the China Brawl.

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The Football League Magazine, 'League Leader' -"The Weekly Magazine of the Football League" (May 25, 2007) lists Championship Statistics for the 2006-2007 season (Pages 6-8)- Attendances, shots, corners, bookings, shooting stats, offsides, etc, etc: Football League's 'League Leader'

(No QPR Players in any of "the top" rankings)

Among QPR Players,highest ranking in the Actim Index
QPR Score Rank Positon
Lee Cook .................477 52 Midfielder
Dexter Blackstock ........472 58 Striker
Damion Stewart ...........459 67 Defender

TEAMS WITH THE MOST...
...yellow cards QPR 95 [but only 2 red cards)

Shots Without Scoring
Richard Langley (Luton) 29
Stephen McPhail (Cardiff) 28
Darren Potter (Wolverhampton) 26
Adam Bolder (QPR) 24
Colin Cameron (Coventry) 24
Rohan Ricketts (QPR) 24

...Assists
Gary McSheffrey (Birmingham) 18
Lee Cook (QPR) 13
Michael Chopra (Cardiff) 11...

Football League

FROM QPR Report May 7, 2007
QPR's 2006-07: Results, Attendances, Disciplinary Record and a Championship Comparison-

QPR's 2006/07 53 points: 14 Wins - 11 Draws - 21 Defeats 54 Goals for; 68 goals against (-14 Goal Difference)

QPR's Home Record: 9 Wins 6 Draws 8 Defeats Goals For: 31 Goals Against: 29

QPR's Away Record: 5 Wins 5 Draws 13 Defeats Goals For: 23 Goals Against: 39 -Table

Attendances: QPR ranked 19th in Championship Attendance Figures, averaging just under 13,000. (12,936). Highest Gate vs Stoke: 16,741 Lowest Gate: 10,811 vs Burnley. (In the Championship, Sunderland had the highest attendance, 31,887). Colchester averaged 5,466) - Attendances

Disciplinary Record: With 105 Yellow cards and 3 Red cards, QPR had one of the worst disciplinary records in the Championship. (Colchester had the best disciplinary record with 51 yellow cards and 2 red cards) - Disciplinary Record

Individual QPR Players's Disciplinary Record, Individual QPR Players' Disciplinary Record

Leading Goalscorers:
Jamie Cureton finished with 23 Championship goals. Michael Chopra got 22. (Dexter Blackstock got 13). Leading Goalscorers

QPR Goalscorers QPR Goalscorers

Assists: In the Championship, Lee Cook ranked 2nd (with 13) behind Brimingham's Garry McSheffrey (with 18) - Assists

Players Used: QPR Used 35 players during the season. (Leeds used 45; Colchester used 22.) -

QPR Appearances: Damion Stewart made the most appearances, missing just one game.

Also: QPR in Statistics
Others: Form Guide (Last Six Games)
Shooting (QPR 2 off the bottom)

QPR LAST SEASON (2005/06)
12 Wins...14 Draws 20 Defeats - Goals scored: 50 Goals Against65
QPR's Home Record: 7 Wins 7 Draws 9 Defeats Goals For: 24 Goals Against: 26
QPR's Away Record: 5 Wins 7 Draws 11 Defeats Goals For: 26 Goals Against: 39

PREVIOUS SEASONS ATTENDANCE NUMBERS
2005/06 13,440 -Attendance
2004/05 16,055 - Attendance
2003/04 (Promotion season) 14,784 - Attendance
2002/03 - 13,206 Attendance

QPR Report

See Also: QPR in 2006/07, Results, Scorers, Attendances, Month-by-Month Record, etc Result, Scorers, Attendances, Month-by-Month Record Football 365 Statistics

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Former QPR player, Paul Bruce, 29 has been released by Dagenham. Bruce was at QPR until 2002, playing 37 games over a number of years.

BBC - Daggers let Cole and Bruce leave
Dagenham & Redbridge have released two members of their Conference-winning squad, reports BBC Essex.
Defender Tim Cole, 30, and midfielder Paul Bruce, 29, have been told they will not be offered new contracts. BBC

Dagenham & Redbridge Official Site - Player Movement
Football League Dagenham & Redbridge have not offered Tim Cole and Paul Bruce new contracts. Former Club Captain, Tim made over 300 appearances for the Club in a ten year spell having joined from Waltham Forest in 1997. Tim has now put pen to paper and signed for Thurrock FC in the Blue Square South League.
Paul joined from Queens Park Rangers in August 2002 and played over 120 games.
Dagenham
http://www.daggers.co.uk/maindex.cfm?section=news&page=news&startnum=2

Paul Bruce Profile - Profile

Bruce Profile

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Glentoran Official Site -Roy Walker unveiled as New Glentoran Manager Thursday 24 May

This morning (Thursday) at the Oval, saw Glentoran FC end speculation, by announcing that it had appointed Roy Walker, as its' new Manager. Subject to UEFA Licence qualification.

Glentoran.net spoke to Roy who told the Website, “I am both delighted and excited about the job, but first things first is to sort out the backroom staff, and I am delighted that Alan McDonald has agreed to continue in his role and his experience will be a real asset, and Billy Sinclair has also agreed to come along and join us, and he will bring with him, his knowledge and experience in the local game. I will also be getting around to talking to the backroom staff and Managers of the various teams at the Club.

On the playing front, I have good base to work from, but I do believe that we need to do a bit of tweaking, and will be starting to engage with some of the players.

I know that this is a big job, both on and off the pitch, and I am aware as an East Belfast man, of the culture, and the standing that Glentoran FC has, or should have in the Community, and I want to build on that, and everything that is Glentoran."
Glentoran

A couple of days before the appointment of Walker, the Belfast Telegraph reported
May 22, 2007 - "Roy Walker is being lined up as the next manager of Glentoran - 15 months after turning down the opportunity to take over the Oval hot-seat.
The former Crusaders and Glenavon chief is the man that the top brass at Glentoran want to take the club forward...
Should Walker agree to take the job then first-team coach Alan McDonald may stay to work alongside him.
McDonald is believed to have told the club that he isn't interested in the manager's job because of business commitments, but would be prepared to stay on in the same role he occupied under Millar. Belfast Telegraph

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Leicester Official Site
Allen Named New Foxes Manager

Leicester City Football Club are pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Allen as manager with immediate effect.

The news comes on the same day that Walkers announce a new ten-year deal with the Foxes, which will see the Leicester-based company invest a seven-figure sum into its hometown club and retain the stadium naming rights to the Walkers Stadium until 2017.

The club can also reveal that Topps Tiles will be Leicester's club sponsor for the 2007-08 season after the two parties signed an initial two-year agreement which could see the Foxes net a seven-figure sum.

And there is further good news, with the club confirming that Alliance & Leicester had agreed to continue their sponsorship of the Alliance & Leicester Stand for a further two years.

Former MK Dons boss Allen has signed a three-year deal with Leicester, and arrives following extensive talks with Foxes owner and chairman Milan Mandaric.

Mandaric said: "I believe Martin Allen's arrival at Leicester City is a significant appointment as the club prepare for widespread changes that will bring underachievement on the field to an end and ensure that we are a highly competitive team.

"Last season's campaign was painfully unacceptable and I made it clear from the outset that significant investment in the first-team was a priority requirement if the club want to dispense with mediocrity and build towards success that will ultimately restore this club to it's rightful place in top flight football.

"Martin's arrival is the first of many that will ultimately re-shape the destiny of the club and restore belief that has been sorely missing in recent seasons.

"During the last couple of months I have been in front of numerous people who believed they had the right attributes to take this club forward.

"My criteria was simple. I needed someone with hunger, drive, commitment and potential to aspire to all our dreams and aspirations. And I believe Martin ticked all the required boxes. His undoubted ability is matched only by his infectious enthusiasm which will inspire the club.

"He was unquestionably the outstanding candidate to come before me and deserves the immense opportunity that awaits him.

"In my short reign since taking control of the club I have shared the supporters' growing concerns and frustrations. I have made it abundantly clear that failure is a word I have no desire to be associated with.

"But as we hopefully build towards a new and prosperous era success can only be achieved if unity prevails throughout the club. I have no desire to see the magnificent support of this club subdued by our evident shortcomings on the field.

"While I would never take the enormous challenge that awaits us for granted I remain confident that the coming campaign brings with it genuine reason for optimism."

Martin Allen added: "I feel honoured and privileged to be appointed manager of Leicester City Football Club.

"Having enjoyed some good times in the Conference, League One and League Two I now feel ready to make the next step up and take on the challenge of getting this team to win matches and to see us fulfil the ambitions of our Chairman and supporters.

"Along the way we will have some fun, some laughs, and a few tears of joy and sadness. But I can see the stadium being sold out on a regular basis to fans who can enjoy supporting a team which has passion - and players who are proud to wear the shirt."

Meanwhile, Neil Campbell, Chief Executive at Walkers, said he was delighted to have secured the stadium naming rights for the next ten years, as Walkers and Leicester City have a long shared heritage. Walkers first sponsored the club's shirts in 1987 and then bought the naming rights to the stadium in 2002...."
Leicester

MK Dons - CLUB STATEMENT

Milton Keynes Dons Football Club can today confirm the departure of Martin Allen as its manager.

After the club granted permission for Leicester City to make an approach regarding their vacant managerial position, Martin has decided to accept the offer at the Walkers Stadium.

The club will now begin the process of appointing a new manager to take the club forward into the most exciting chapter of its short history.

After a successful first season in charge, it came as no surprise that a club from a higher level was alerted to Martin's talents.

We would like to thank Martin for his hard work and commitment during his time with the club, and we wish him every success in the future. MK Dons

BBC - Allen named new Leicester manager

Martin Allen guided MK Dons to the League Two play-offs
Leicester City have appointed Martin Allen as their new manager.
The Foxes were given permission to speak to the MK Dons boss earlier in the week and chairman Milan Mandaric has decided to bring in Allen.

The 41-year-old has pipped current caretaker boss Nigel Worthington, Neil Warnock and Paul Ince to the post.

He took MK Dons to fourth place in League Two last season, where they lost out in the play-offs to Shrewsbury and impressed at Brentford before that.

In two years at Griffin Park, the former QPR and Portsmouth player turned the Bees from relegation strugglers into promotion hopefuls.

He has never managed at Championship level before, but the Foxes will hope his managerial success to date helps them improve after a poor season in which they finished 19th in the table.

Worthington took over as caretaker manager of the Foxes in April after the departure of Rob Kelly and helped steer the club away from relegation. BBC

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Former QPR Midfielder John Beck, who made his QPR debut under Gordon Jago in December 1972, turns 53 (May 25, 1954) Birthday See John Beck/Wikipedia
Former QPR forward,Tony Thorpe has joined Non-League Tamworth FC (from Grimsby) - Tamworth

Dean Sturridge has been released by non-league Kidderminster Harriers - Kidderminster Official Site: "Deano to Leave Aggborough
Mark Yates has confirmed that striker Dean Sturridge will not be staying on with the club for the new Blue Square Premier 2007/08 season.
Sturridge joined the club last summer on a one-year deal and featured in six games before suffering a severe Achilles injury in early September, which brought a premature end to his playing season.
He continued to assist Yates and Neil Howarth with coaching duties for the remainder of last season.
"It didn't work out as we would have liked with Dean on the playing side of things last season and it was a massive shame with the serious injury he picked up," Yates told harriers.co.uk today.
"But he was a massive help in the dressing room and around the club on the coaching side of things and we wish him all the best for the future." Kidderminster
News Sturridge joined QPR in March 2005 - BBC

Martin Allen is reportedly set to be announced as the new manager of Leicester City - BBC -Allen set to be named Foxes boss
Martin Allen guided MK Dons to the League Two play-offs
Leicester City are set to unveil Martin Allen as their new manager on Friday, BBC Radio Leicester reports.
The Foxes were given permission to speak to MK Dons boss Allen earlier in the week and chairman Milan Mandaric has decided to appoint the 41-year-old.
Allen has pipped current caretaker boss Nigel Worthington, Neil Warnock and Paul Ince to the post....BBC

Matt Jackson who was briefly at QPR on loan, a decade ago, under Ray Wilkins has joined Watford on a free from Wigan - BBC

Matt Johnson who was signed by Ian Holloway to assist our successful promotion and now a player with Wellington, was jailed in New Zealand for at least six months for drunk driving - Report

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May 25, 2003: Cardiff 1 QPR 0

QPR Team on that day:
Day, Kelly, Shittu, Carlisle, Padula (Williams 79), Gallen, Bircham, Palmer, McLeod, Pacquette (Thomson 60), Furlong. Subs not used: Culkin, Angell, Forbes.
Manager: Ian Holloway. Coach: Kenny Jackett: Board's Nigel Blackburn and Ross Jones. CEO: David Davies.
- Every single one of the above named is no longer at Loftus Road: Players, Manager and coach and Board!

BBC Match Report Cardiff seal promotion

Substitute Andy Campbell came off the bench to guide Cardiff past Queens Park Rangers in a nerve-wracking Division Two play-off final.
QPR's defensive partnership of Danny Shittu and Clark Carlisle had managed to shackle Cardiff's 35-goal striker Rob Earnshaw.

But with six minutes to go of extra-time, Campbell proved more elusive.

The former Middlesbrough striker, who had replaced Earnshaw in the second half, shrugged off Shittu and then calmly lobbed Chris Day, to ensure Cardiff returned to Division One after an 18-year absence.

Chances had been few and far between in normal time, but as both sets of players tired, the game opened up in those nail-biting final 30 minutes.

No more so than when Day made a superb one-handed save from a Spencer Prior header after Graham Kavanagh's in-swinging free-kick.

While Cardiff favoured a more patient build-up, QPR were keen to get the ball quickly forward to strikers Paul Furlong and Richard Pacquette.

Key moments
79 mins: Lawrence replaces Earnshaw with Campbell
104 mins: Day superbly saves Prior's header
114 mins: Campbell cleverly lobs Day to score the game's only goal

The experienced Furlong proved a handful for the Cardiff defence, holding up the ball well, though reflecting the tenseness of the occasion, his finishing was too hurried.

Notably after the restart, when the 34-year-old striker found some space in the Cardiff area, but having done the hard work, he blazed over the bar.

Furlong also had the best chance of the first half when he pounced on Danny Gabbidon's error, only to then rush his attempted lob over Neil Alexander.

On the flanks, Kevin McLeod and Kevin Gallen also provided plenty of impetus for QPR.

On 47 minutes Gallen ran on to a loose ball inside the box, but his low eight-yard shot flew straight at Alexander.

Gallen then unleashed a volley, which flew just over the bar.

Despite having plenty of the ball, Cardiff's attacks foundered against QPR's impressive central defensive partnership of Shittu and Carlisle.

Shittu made a superb defensive tackle to stop Gareth Whalley, when the former Bradford midfielder had a clear sight of goal on the edge of the box in the first-half.

As the game wore on, Carlisle's reading of the game time and again came to QPR's rescue.

With 10 minutes to go, Carlisle made a well-timed tackle to thwart Kavanagh on the edge of the penalty area and then produced an even better challenge to deny Andy Campbell.

The England Under-21 defender even found time to saunter forward to out jumped Prior, only to guide his header wide of Alexander's right-hand post.

So indomitable were those two QPR central defenders that in the closing stages of the game, Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence withdraw the club's leading scorer Rob Earnshaw.

But as the game headed towards penalties, Carlisle conceded possession and as the ball broke forward, Campbell got the better of Shittu to send Cardiff into Division One.
BBC


Also: BBC - Minute by Minute Report

The Guardian - Bluebirds soar towards top flight
Cardiff City 1 - 0 Queens Park Rangers
Jon Brodkin at the Millennium Stadium

Never one to set his sights low, Sam Hammam spoke last night of his determination to reach the Champions League. The Cardiff City owner has a long way to go to achieve that ambition but yesterday his club at least moved to within striking distance of the top flight. It is just as well today is a bank holiday because few in the Welsh capital will be in a fit state to work.
The Andy Campbell goal which took Cardiff to a level they last played at 18 years ago was greeted with unrestrained joy in their home city. A forgettable game seemed certain to be heading for penalties after 114 scoreless minutes until Campbell, a second-half substitute, scored with a touch of quality which was out of keeping with most of the match.
The party in Cardiff will continue for days, probably months, but it was impossible not to feel sorry for QPR, who were the more thoughtful side and had the better of the few openings over the initial 90 minutes. The manner of defeat was particularly unfortunate for Clarke Carlisle, who had been excellent at centre-half until his poor pass was cut out for Campbell's strike.

Cardiff will care little about the way victory was achieved. For the most part they were one dimensional, playing too many unsuccessful long balls towards the head of Peter Thorne, and lacked cutting edge until extra-time. Yet, having failed in last season's play-offs, perhaps they were due a change of luck.

Hammam was thrown in the bath afterwards and emerged sounding like he had forgotten the promotion is to the First Division and not the Premiership. The former Wimbledon owner has big hopes for Cardiff and is desperate to get permission for a new 30,000-seat stadium. With that he believes progress up the league could be fast.

"Our aim is not to be in the Premier League but to be in the top echelons of the Premier League and in the Champions League," he said. "That's the only thing that Welsh people will accept. The thing we need is a vehicle and for that we need the stadium.

"If we have [planning permission for] the stadium we can go aggressively and then we would like to take a step forward as quickly as possible. It's in the hands of the politicians but also we have to solve the technical problems of planning.

"With the stadium in place we will expect to give any club in the First Division a run for their money. Once we have the planning for the stadium then the money the financial institutions will give us will be far different. Already we have an excellent nucleus of players. We could augment that with new blood."

Cardiff's manager Lennie Lawrence is not thinking about Real Madrid for the time being, though his mind is set on another promotion. Having reached the top flight with Middlesbrough and Charlton, he said his one remaining ambition was to join the elite band who have guided three clubs to that height.

Lawrence gambled by bringing on Campbell for his leading scorer Robert Earnshaw after 80 minutes. Earnshaw shook his head but Lawrence's instincts were right. Campbell, hardly a prolific scorer, notched his seventh of the campaign at a perfect moment.

Earnshaw had been quiet, a reflection of Cardiff's failure to make much headway. QPR's central defenders, Carlisle and Danny Shittu, were outstanding and Lawrence's players lacked the variety required. After a first half which was nervy and dominated by long balls, QPR found better passing movements. They wasted openings during the 90 minutes and in extra-time but their manager Ian Holloway was rightly proud of what has been achieved on a tight budget.

"When I arrived not that long ago I had no staff and nine players, two of whom had long-term injuries," he said. "We have come a long way. Sadly not far enough and we have to do that next year. We have to keep this feeling in our hearts and get stronger."

QPR's preparations had hardly been helped by the fact that they were woken at about 4.15am after Cardiff fans apparently set off a fire alarm at their hotel. Their goalkeeper Chris Day was still alert enough in extra-time to make a brilliant save from Spencer Prior's header but was powerless when Campbell struck. Not long after QPR's Tommy Williams had shot when he ought to have squared to Paul Furlong, Carlisle's pass was intercepted by Gareth Whalley and Campbell sprinted clear of Shittu and lifted a shot into the net.

"It wasn't a classic match," Lawrence said, "but no one connected with Cardiff will ever forget it." That is certain and, if Hammam has his way, there will be far more to come. Guardian

And of course the night before the playoff final: "The Hotel Fire Alarm Incident"

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Mail
European champions fear for their future
Last updated at 12:31pm on 22nd May 2007

Comments

Wasps chairman Chris Wright today warned that Europe’s rugby champions will not be able to build on their Heineken Cup success without significant investment or a bigger stadium.

According to Wright, his club need to make significant strides towards matching the facilities that underpin Leicester and French giants Toulouse if they are to take advantage of Sunday’s 25-9 victory over the Tigers.

Scroll down to read more:



Tastes good: Lawrence Dallaglio savours Wasps' Heineken Cup win but says the club must improve their Adams Park facilities

Wasps at present share Adams Park with Wycombe Wanderers and are examining ways of increasing the capacity of 10,000.

A new stadium is the obvious answer but that would involve a huge amount of capital investment, let alone finding a suitable site.

London Irish, who share the Madejski Stadium with Reading, are also looking into the feasibility of building their own stadium.

Under existing Guinness Premiership rules, however, any club building a new home have to allow for a capacity of at least 12,000.

Wasps attracted 91,061 fans during this season’s Premiership campaign compared to Leicester’s 196,194 and captain Lawrence Dallaglio stressed the need for an increased capacity.

“We need to go away and address the issues off the field and make sure we don’t fail because of our lack of ability to compete at that level,” he said.

“We haven’t got the buying power or strength in depth Leicester have. We don’t own a stadium or have 17,000 people coming to watch us each game. But what we do have in our team is soul.”

Wasps will receive £375,000 for taking part in the Heineken Cup, with the 11 other Premiership clubs getting exactly the same income as they have agreed to pool all monies from this competition.

The champions have picked up £37,000 as a bonus for lifting the trophy. Wright, chairman of Chrysalis, brought in businessman John O’Connell as vice-chairman, who is a significant shareholder in Wasps, and together they have been examining ways of increasing the club’s financial power.

“At the end of the day, the buck stops with me as chairman and I am open to suggestions about how we can best move forward,” Wright said.

“I believe our achievements in the 10 years of my involvement have been fantastic and I am not planning to stand down. If I ever did, I would think that I had done a pretty decent job.

“We have created a fantastic foundation here at Wasps and we are a brand that is known around the rugby world. I would love to see us playing at the kind of stadium that would match our achievements and our ambition but our biggest problem with Adams Park is gaining planning consent for increasing the capacity.

“It’s a fact of life that we cannot generate the same kind of income as other teams and that makes our achievements even greater. We have got a lot of things right and have put in place as much as we can.”

Wright admitted the only way forward might now be outside investment in the club and is more interested in someone coming in with fresh ideas.

He said: “We are always open to offers of help and if individuals felt they wanted to be involved and could play a part in developing the club then we would be willing to talk to them.

“We have spoken to a variety of people and it’s an ongoing process. If somebody coming on board wanted to take a major role then I would do whatever is right for the club.

“We are not talking about financial clout because Wasps are right up to the limit on the agreed salary cap for our squad. It’s not a question of money.

"We are talking about ideas and what someone could offer Wasps in terms of helping keep this club at the top of the game in Europe. Our aim is to build a new era of excellence and to ensure Wasps are at the forefront.”

It is a decade since Wright was asked to consider getting involved with the fledgling professional rugby game in England and agreed to form Loftus Road Plc with Wasps and Queens Park Rangers operating under the same umbrella.

He eventually opted to break up the partnership, throwing his financial weight behind the rugby section and has been rewarded with 10 trophies in as many years.

He added: “I remember going to their home ground at Sudbury and thinking, ‘My God, they can’t run a professional team from these facilities.’

“Now we have joined Leicester and Toulouse as the only teams to have won two Heineken Cups. That is amazing and there is no doubting we have been over performing compared to Leicester, who started professional rugby with 12,500 season-ticket holders.” Mail

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Islanders name Colin Clarke Head Coach
05/24/07 - USL First Division (USLFD)

[Puerto Rico Islanders play in the United Soccer Leagues (USL)First Division] - not the same as Major League Soccer (MLS)

BAYAMON, PR -- The Board of Directors of the PR Islanders announce the appointment and hiring of former Major League Soccer FC Dallas head coach Colin Clarke to assume the direction of the team for the USL First Division 2007 season.
Colin Clarke, 44, brings his highly regarded experience, both as a successful international player and coach for both MLS and USL First Division (formerly A-League). Clarke holds an FA (British) coaching badge and a USSF Class "A" coaching license.

His professional coaching career in USL began in 1998 when he guided the USL First Division Richmond Kickers to a 38-18 regular season record and playoff appearances in both 1998 and 1999 USL Seasons. Thereafter he was the head coach for the San Diego Flash of USL-1, guiding the team to a 16-9-3 record and a second place finish in the Pacific Division. In 2001 he was hired as the Assistant Coach for MLS FC Dallas, for three years until 2003 and was the Interim Head Coach for the final six matches of the 2003 season.

In the summer of 2005, Clarke and his coaching staff were selected to lead the MLS All-Star team in the summer classic against Fulham FC by virtue of having a League-best 34 points through July 4. With a league-high six FC Dallas players on the MLS roster, Clarke's side defeated Fulham 4-1.

Clarke led FC Dallas to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2004 and 2005 as regular seasons champs. Under Clarke's direction FC Dallas achieved many milestones during the 2006 regular season in posting a record of 16-12-4 (52 points): The 16 wins led MLS and equaled the most wins in regulation in team history. He was appointed head coach at USL First Division's Virginia Beach Mariners in January 2007 until USL announced the franchise's dissolution.

Clarke's outstanding playing career includes 38 appearances with the Northern Ireland National Team, where he scored 13 goals, including a goal vs. Spain in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. He played in the English Leagues from 1981-93 with six different teams, including Portsmouth, Southampton and Queens Park Rangers. During his 12-year career, he played in 361 English League matches and tallied 146 goals.

The Islanders' former head coach Toribio Rojas will continue to be an important part of Islanders' organization in the rapidly expanding youth development programs. Mr. Rojas has made a historic contribution to Puerto Rican soccer during the past ten years."The Islanders and Puerto Rico have a debt to Mr. Rojas for his dedication and support to this effort," said Andres Guillemard, president of PRI.

Clarke will meet the players during practice scheduled for Wednesday morning at "La Islandera" and will join the team on Thursday in Minnesota for the rematch to be played on Saturday May 26th, at National Sports Center.

"I am very excited to joining the Islanders franchise and to make this team reach a whole new level," said new PR Islanders Head Coach Colin Clarke.
Announcement

About the United Soccer League (USL)

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Thirty Years ago (yesterday): May 23rd 1977: Dave Sexton's last game in charge of QPR. QPR drew that final game 2-2 against Birmingham (Masson and Webb scoring for QPR.

QPR's team:
Parkes
Gillard Webb McClintock Hollins
Kelly Leach Masson Thomas
Givens Eastoe -
Sub Abbot

Thus ended the 2 1/2 Year Dave Sexton era, in which Sexton basically inherited the Gordon Jago team and first guided to safety; the following season guided QPR to the League Championship (except QPR were 'robbed' at the very end!). And the following season guided the team to the League Cup Semi-Finals and EUFA Cup Quarter-Finals (again robbed!)..
A few weeks later, Dave Sexton was appointed manager of Manchester United (after initially seeming to be set to coach at Arsenal. And Frank Sibley was QPR's new manager.

1976-77 League Table

1975/76 League Table

1975-1976 Results

1974/75 League Table

See Also:Dave's Queens Park Rangers Profile of Dave Sexton - Dave Sexton

Dave Sexton's Bio - Wikipedia on Dave Sexton

FA on Sexton - Sexton

PLAYERS FROM THAT ERA INTERVIEWED

Ron Norris/QPR Net's Interview with Don Masson about Dave Sexton Don Masson Interview

Ron Norris/QPR Net Interview with Don Givens - Don Givens Interview

Ron Norris/QPR Net Interview with Frank Sibley - Frank Sibley Interview

Ron Norris/QPR Net Interview with John Hollins - John Hollins Interview

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Lee Cook Icons Diary on His Holiday, His Awards and his FUTURE

I've just come back from holiday in Dubai with my girlfriend. ...Before I went out to Dubai, I was lucky enough to pick up a few awards, and I was over the moon with them.
At the final game of the season against Stoke I picked up the Tony Ingham Suite award ...I picked up the Players' Player of the Year and the Supporters Player of the Year awards. ...
As for my future, I'm told there are still people interested in me, but I'm not sure what offers are going to come in. My agent is pretty certain there will be offers, so then it's just a case of whether the club accepts them. It's a long time until the end of August, so anything could happen. Like I've said before, until the club accepts an offer for me I'm a QPR player, and very happy to be one. Icons

QPR Official Site Gareth Ainsworth - FOOT ON THE GAZ
The cast is off and that's music to the ears of Rock & Roll midfielder Gareth Ainsworth, as he battles his way back from a broken leg.
The winger, who sustained a spiral fracture of his left fibula in the first half of the R's fixture against Luton Town on April 9th, returned to Harlington on Thursday morning, as he prepares for the next step of his rehabilitation.
In an exclusive interview with www.qpr.co.uk, the fans' favourite spoke of his frustrations of the last few weeks: "It's been a nightmare to be honest.
"Missing the last few games of the season was a blow in itself, but being on crutches for such a long period was even more frustrating.''
Ainsworth, who had his cast removed on Wednesday afternoon, added: "I've got to look to the future now and I'm looking forward to getting back in the gym and stepping up my rehab.''
Physio Prav Mathema, who is continuing to monitor Ainsworth's progress prior to his departure from the Club at the end of June, is adamant the midfielder will be firing on all cylinders for the start of pre-season.
"The aim is to get Gareth back to full fitness for the start of pre-season training,'' he said.
"The aim is to get Gareth back to full fitness for the start of pre-season training.''
"It's such a crucial period for a footballer, so we'll be doing everything we can to get him fit for the start of July.'' QPR

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Twas the night before the playoff final against Cardiff City....QPR Players were sleeping at the Celtic Mannor hotel...The fire alarm went off...All the guests were awoken, including the QPR player...Turned out it was a false alarm set off by one Neil MacNamara, previously a "Security Guard" with Cardiff City (also described as "former minder of Cardiff City Football Club owner Sam Hammam." Was also described as a "former bodyguard" of Sam Hammam)

"QPR Hotel Alarm - Man Charged"

"Ex-soccer minder admits hoax"

"Fan says he set off alarm in hotel of rival team"

"Ex Minder Gets Five Year Soccer Ban"

Pre-Fire Alarm Story "Key test for war on hooligans" and Story

Hammam minder sent to jail

From 2006 - "Ex-minder is jailed for tax dodge"



The eve of QPR's Playoff Final against Cardiff at the Millenium Stadium

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This is Wiltshire -SWINDON TOWN: Power still ready to deal
By Andy Cryer
Bill Power insists news of a potential mystery investor at the County Ground is "wonderful" for the club but has reassured fans his money is still there if it proves another false dawn.
The Town investor is backing the fans' consortium's takeover bid with big money but has described any rival investor as "only positive news for Swindon Town."
The former QPR chairman, who has already invested in the region of £1m into the club, believes the longer the saga continues the more likely it is the club will change hands, while insisting it does not matter who provides the funds.
The last few months have seen talks stall between the club and the consortium but, with the Non Disclosure Agreement still unsigned, Power has stated categorically he will not just walk away.
Last week, the Swindon Advertiser revealed the club were on the verge of sealing a multi-million pound deal with an investor and, despite cynicism from many, Power says he has no reason to doubt their claims.
He has though urged the current owners to explore all their options while admitting talks would have to progress quicker with the mystery investor' than they have with the consortium, if anything was to be finalised in the near future.
He said: "I haven't been that involved in things at the moment but obviously I have read all the rumours and do know the latest.
"If someone else is going to come in and invest more money into the club than us, then great, and I mean that.
"I think if this proves to be the case everyone will be happy.
"Not a single Swindon Town fan out there would deny if someone with money is out there, and with the interests of the club, then it is great stuff.
"But I won't hold my breath for things to happen too soon.
"Because if negotiations happen as quickly as they have with us, then nothing is going to happen for a long time."
Power, who was injured in a plane crash on his way back from Town's opening league game at Hartlepool last season, has already said he is prepared to pay over the odds for the club.
But he also admits he does not have a "bottomless wallet" and if someone can give the club more than him, then he will happily step aside.
He said: "We are still talking with the club.
"In the last couple of days more questions went back to be clarified and I don't think either party are going to rush things.
"We have still not seen the books and are waiting for our accountants to see them.
"It is pretty simple really they will have a look and say the club is worth X amount.
"I have said all along. If you tell me the club is worth X amount, I will pay X plus £1m.
"But if this investor can invest substantially more, of course the club should snap their hand off.
"The only way to look at this situation is in a positive way.
"If someone is out there, and I have no reason to question that, who can financially take the club on quicker then it is good news.
"I don't have bottomless funds, mind you I'm not sure anyone does.
"Still if someone has £50m to play with then losing £1m doesn't seem as much of a problem."
While many Town fans see the club's latest mystery investor as just another way of stalling Power & co's takeover bid, the man himself insists he won't be driven away.
"It is hard to believe anyone will have more interest for the club than we have," said Power.
"But let's not bring a negative side to this story.
"My money is here and it will be until I am told they are definitely going elsewhere.
"I think these are exciting times for Town fans.
"Money may not be everything but it does make things easier. If this investor can speed things ups then brilliant.
"All we want is for the club to get another promotion as soon as they can."
This is Wiltshire

See also - "May 20 -Update on Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power's Swindon Investment Effort

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As part of the Tony Roberts Testimonial Year:


Dagenham - Robbo's Golf Day
Tony Roberts is inviting golfers to attend his testimonial celebrity golf day at Nazeing Golf Club on June 28.

Teams of three are invited at £300 (or £100 for individual players). Each trio will be allocated a current or former celebrity to make up a four ball.

The day kicks off with breakfast at 11am before tee off at 1pm. A three course dinner and auction will then be held in the club house at 7pm.

Tony said: “It will be a great day. I’ve been lucky enough to meet a lot of great blokes over the years and I’m grateful to them for being able to attend.

“I’ve got a load more players who are looking to come, but what with it being this time of year, a few of them need to check their holiday plans. As soon as they’ve confirmed then it will be made public.

“My testimonial year couldn’t have come at a better time. What with promotion last month this is a real celebration for me and I hope that any keen golfers out there will turn up for what will be a great day.”

Those who have already confirmed their attendance include: Ray Wilkins (Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan, QPR), Marc Bircham (Millwall, QPR), Paul Jones (Southampton, QPR, Wales), Clarke Carlisle (QPR, Leeds, Watford) and Richard Lee (Watford), with many more from Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, QPR and Watford set to confirm.
For more details or to book, call 07871 495 819.
Dagenham

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QPR Official Site - WYCOMBE DATE

The R's will travel to Adams Park - the home of Wycombe Wanderers - for a pre-season friendly on Saturday 28th July.
The Club today (Wednesday) finalised the details of the friendly fixture, in what promises to be an emotional day for gaffer John Gregory, who takes his charges to the home of one of his former Club's.
Speaking about the tie, Gregory - who was in charge at Wanderers between 1996 and 1998 - said: "I loved my time at Wycombe and it will be a pleasure to take the R's to Adams Park.
"I'm really looking forward to it." QPR Official Site

WYCOMBE OFFICIAL SITE - RANGERS COMING TO TOWN
Written by: Alan Parry - 23/05/07

Former Blues manager John Gregory will return to Adams Park on Saturday July 28th when the Wanderers meet Queens Park Rangers in a pre-season friendly (kick-off 3pm).

Gregory took charge at Wycombe in 1996, replacing Alan Smith at the helm, and steered the team away from the relegation zone in Division Two. The following season, he guided Wycombe to a comfortable mid-table position before accepting an offer to take charge at Aston Villa.

Said Gregory: "I loved my time at Wycombe. The board was really supportive and they gave me the money to build a decent squad. I know that Wycombe fans still think a lot of the players I brought in, like Martin Taylor, Michael Simpson and Mark Stallard.

"It was a team that was destined for success and I'd have loved to have seen it through but I simply couldn't refuse the chance to take over at Villa. I'd been there previously when Brian Little was there and it's a huge club."

Gregory added: "Wycombe has always been special to me. I've always looked out for their results since I left and I know that Steve Hayes is steering the club in the right direction."

"It will be a pleasure to take QPR to Adams Park and I'm really looking forward to it."

Wanderers fans will be curious to know which side Tommy Doherty will be playing for when the two teams meet. The tenacious midfielder, who spent most of the season with the Wanderers on loan from QPR, is one of Paul Lambert's number one transfer targets and the Blues boss is still confident that a deal can be struck.

The visitors QPR will be Wanderers' only home friendly before the start of season 2007/08. Away games are planned against Maidenhead United on Tuesday 31st July (k.o. 7.45pm) and Oxford United on Friday 3rd August (k.o. 7.45pm) , while the Blues will also be sending a team to Holmer Green FC to help the local club celebrate their centenary on a date still to be confirmed. Wycombe Official

Story includes photo of Gregory and Richard Hill

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QPR Official Site - A CLEAN SLATE

John Gregory insists it's time to forget the recent past and focus on the immediate future at QPR.
The R's gaffer is determined to improve upon last season's 18th place finish and as such, he believes it is of paramount importance to start the new campaign with a clean slate.
"It's very much a clean slate for everyone connected to QPR,'' he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"I inherited a lot of rubbish right the way through this Club, but as much as I wanted to change things, at the time, the focus was entirely upon guaranteeing our safety.
"We've done that and now we can start to build for the future - there can be no excuses anymore.''
Part of Gregory's rebuilding process will include changes to his backroom team.
"There will be a few staffing additions,'' he said.
"I'll be sitting down with Warren Neill, but there are others I'm hoping to add to my backroom team too.

"For instance, we need to replace (Head Physiotherapist) Prav Mathema, so it's going to be a busy summer.'' QPR

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Daily Mail - Cook is the first on menu for Fulham

Fulham want to make Queens Park Rangers winger Lee Cook their first signing of the summer.

Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa are three other Premiership clubs that have shown an interest in the highly-rated winger who was voted Rangers' player of the year last season.

Rangers value the 24-year-old at around £5million and turned down a bid from Spurs in January.

Manager Lawrie Sanchez will make an initial £1.5million bid for the 24-year-old, who is thought to be ready to put in a transfer request if Rangers block the move.

Striker Kevin Gallen, 31, released by QPR after 12 years there, is to be offered a trial at Watford. Daily Mail

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QPR began the season as one of the teams rated as struggling to avoid the drop. QPR signed Rehman and Blackstock. Former Chairman, Bill Power and Former CEO survived a terrible plane crash. Kiyan Prince - "Soccer fans remember stabbed boy"
After 14 games - and 6 months - QPR finally won a game, defeating SOuthend 2-0 at Loftus Road.
Graham Mackrell joined QPR as Chief Operating Officer. Stefan Moore joined Port Vale on loan. At the end of the month, the Transfer window closed. Nick Ward was named in the Australia Squad. QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini financial help for a sick child was noted Report


Mackrell Appointed
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - GRAHAM MACKRELL APPOINT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
QPR are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Mackrell, as Chief Operating Officer.
A qualified accountant, Mackrell will offer assistance to the board, with the focus on improving the Club's off-the-field activities.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead,'' Mackrell told qpr.co.uk.
"QPR is a club with fantastic tradition and I'm excited about the prospect of working with the strong team we already have in place here.
"I'm here to add professionalism and my aim is to ensure the Club's off-the-field ambitions match those on it.''
Mackrell has worked in professional football for 25 years, including spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town, AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United.
He is also a Venue Director for UEFA.
Chairman Gianni Paladini is delighted to have Mackrell on board, commenting: "Graham will raise our profile within football thanks to his extensive work with UEFA and the League Managers Association.
"He is extremely well-known and respected within the game and also benefits from being a qualified accountant.
"I would like to wish Graham all the best and welcome him to QPR.''Announcement

QPR OFFICIAL SITE NEW Staff Directory AS OF AUGUST 2006
Chairman - Gianni Paladini
Non-executive Directors - Franco Zanotti, Olga Paladini, Antonio Caliendo
Club Secretary - Sheila Marson
Chief Operating Officer - Graham Mackrell
Chief Financial Officer - Chris Pennington
First Team Coaching Staff
Manager - Gary Waddock
Assistant Manager - Alan McDonald
Reserve Team Manager - Justin Skinner
Goalkeeper Coach - Tony Roberts
Physiotherapist - Prav Mathema
Assistant Physiotherapist - Bobby Bacic
Youth and Recruitment
Head of Youth - Joe Gallen
Head of Youth Recruitment - John O'Brien johnob@qpr.co.uk
Press & Publications Manager - Jackie Bass: 020 8740 2536 jackieb@qpr.co.uk
QPR Directory


August Results: 1 Win - 2 Draw - 2 Defeats 5 Points

05-Aug-06 A Burnley L 0-2 (0-0) L Match Report
08-Aug-06 H Leeds United D 2-2 (0-0) D Rowlands 81p; Baidoo 91

12-Aug-06 H Southend United W 2-0 (2-0) W Rowlands 31; Ward 41

19-Aug-06 A Preston North End D 1-1 (1-0)D Ainsworth 5

25-Aug-06 H Ipswich Town L 1-3 (0-0)L Gallen 58
http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/teams/QueensPkRan.html

Opening Game: Burnley 2 QPR 0:
QPR Paul Jones, Bignot, Rose, Stewart, Milanese,Lomas (Ray Jones 66), Ainsworth, Rowlands (Donnelly 79), Ward,Cook, Czerkas (Bircham 71).
Subs Not Used: Cole, Kanyuka.
Match Report

QPR 2 Leeds 2
QPR Paul Jones, Bignot (Baidoo 77), Rose, Stewart, Milanese,Ainsworth, Rowlands (Bircham 87), Lomas, Ward, Cook,Czerkas (Ray Jones 55).
Subs Not Used: Cole, Kanyuka - Match Report

QPR 2 Southend 0
QPR: P Jones, Rose, Stewart, Rehman, Milanese, Ainsworth, Rowlands (Lomas 55), Ward, Cook, Blackstock, R Jones (Gallen 75).
Subs: Cole, Kanyuka, Baidoo.
Scorers: Rowlands 31, Ward 40
Match Report

Preston 1 QPR 1
QPR: P Jones, Milanese, Stewart, Rehman, Rose, Ainsworth (Baidoo 90), Ward, Rowlands (Lomas 10), Cook, R Jones (Gallen 86), Blackstock
Subs: Cole, Kanyuka, Baidoo
Scorers: Ainsworth 4, - Match Report

League Cup/Carling Cup: QPR 3 Northampton 2
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Stewart (Kanyuka 90), Rehman, Howell, Baidoo, Bircham (R Jones 84), Bailey, Cook, Gallen (Oliseh 76), Blackstock.
Subs: PJones, Donnelly.
Scorers: Cook 17, Gallen 47, R Jones 87
Match Report

QPR 1 Ipswich 3
QPR: P Jones, Rose, Rehman, Stewart, Milanese (Baidoo 76), Gallen, Lomas (Bircham 71), Ward, Cook, Blackstock, R Jones.
Subs: Cole, Kanyuka, Oliseh.
Scorers: Gallen 57 Report
For Full August Posts, See QPR Report's August 2006 Archive


SEE ALSO QPR's 2006-07 Perspective

2006-2007 Season in Review: #4 - Close Season Ends; Shittu Leaves; Paladini Speaks

2006-2007 Season in Review #3 - July 2006: Italy, Dunga, MK Dons, Ward, Shittu, Holloway, Suits

2006-2007 Season in Review #2 - June 2006: The Pre-Season

2006-2007 Season in Review #1 - May 2006

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Two past encounters against Celtic.

Sporting Life July 13 2002 - QPR 3 Celtic 7

If QPR's Division Two season is half as exciting as this pre-season friendly against Scottish champions Celtic, the Loftus Road fans are in for a real treat.

Many condemn friendly matches with their endless substitutions as a complete waste of time but despite the teams making 19 changes between them during the match there were no complaints from the 15,000 plus crowd who basked in the sunshine and saw 10 goals and some full bloodied tackling.

It was QPR who grabbed first blood after just nine minutes when Andy Thomson's clever backheel put in Kevin Gallen - who slotted in from six yards.

But classy Celtic were level within five minutes when a corner was cleared to the edge of the box and Colin Healy drove the ball into the bottom corner.

Celtic wingers Steve Guppy and Didier Agathe were causing havoc down the flanks and it looked only a matter of time before they were in front.

And the Scottish champions gained the advantage in the 26th minute when John Hartson got down the left to cross and Chris Sutton picked up the loose ball to curl superbly into the top corner.

On 33 minutes it was 3-1 as the strikers combined again. This time Hartson was the beneficiary after playing a one-two with Sutton before slipping the ball past Nick Culkin and into the corner.

QPR changed all but two of their players at the break and it seemed to have the desired effect as they pulled a goal back within four minutes of the restart.

Karl Connolly crossed from the left and the unmarked Oliver Burgess, playing his first game since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last October, headed home.

However once again that merely spurred Celtic into retaliation as Bobby Petta won a free-kick just outside the box and Shaun Maloney thumped the ball in off the underside of the bar.

Back came QPR again when Lyndon Duncan's cross was tapped in by Mamady Sidibi to make it 4-3 with Jonathan Gould in the Celtic goal stranded.

But the Scots moved up a gear with the introduction of six more substitutes.

David Fernandez made it 5-3 with a simple tap-in after QPR's Danny Murphy had put a free-kick straight into the back of a Celtic player and a minute later Mohamed Sylla played a superb one-two with Fernandez to give him a simple tap-in to make it 6-3.

QPR kept battling to the end but the gulf in class between the sides, with Celtic's World Cup players still missing, was immense.

And with five minutes to go they made it 7-3 when Fernandez grabbed his second goal, heading home Sylla's inch-perfect right-wing cross. Sporting Life

BBC - Sunday, 15 July, 2001, Celtic cruise past QPR
Martin O'Neill declared himself satisfied with Celtic's victory
QPR 0-2 Celtic
Henrik Larsson was back in the old routine as Celtic cruised to victory against QPR at Loftus Road.

The Swedish striker - the Golden Shoe winner with 53 goals in Celtic's treble winning season - was on target after only 63 seconds.

Larsson's goal established Celtic's platform for victory and substitute Lubomir Moravcik, on in the second half for Paul Lambert, added another to seal the win for Martin O'Neill's side.

Celtic and QPR enjoyed a low key work out in the West London sunshine, with the Second Division side even having 12 players on the pitch during one period of rapid substitutions.

But Celtic were unconvincing for long periods as QPR, relegated from the First Division last season, enjoyed plenty of possession.

Larsson opened the scoring when he latched on to a pass from Alan Thompson to beat QPR's debutant keeperm Chris Day.

Finnish winger Joonas Kolkka was making his Celtic debut, and almost marked it with a goal when he hit the post with a right foot shot.

He is hoping to impress Celtic boss Martin O'Neill enough to earn a permanent deal at Parkhead.

A decision will be made over the weekend on whether or not to buy the PSV Eindhoven winger.

As for long-term summer transfer target Bobo Balde, Celtic will finally hear tomorrow if their bid to bring the player to the club is successful.

O'Neill said: "At this moment it is still not completed and I am not sure what the ins and outs are".

"We should know by Monday. I am not sure of everything that is going on, but I am not really concerned."

"However, until somebody actually signs for you, they are never your player."

Satisfied

Meanwhile O'Neill declared himself satisfied with the performance: "I thought we did well enough today and gave a run out to all 22 players."

"We are only two weeks away from the start of the season now, so it's not far away."

As for Golden shoe winner Henrik Larsson, O'Neill continued: "I thought Henrik Larsson was superb as he only came back for training last Monday and was starting to get a bit of cramp towards the end."

"His goal was excellent and he could have scored two or three more, but I'm sure his touch will improve as the pre-season continues."

O'Neill was also happy with the contribution of his other striker.

"Chris Sutton is one that takes a bit of time to get properly fit, but I'm sure that once he's up and running he'll be fine as well," said O'Neill.

QPR: Day; Bignot, Forbes, Palmer, Bruce; Connolly, Peacock, Bonnot, Barr (Koejoe 46); Wardley, Thomson (Griffiths 46).

CELTIC:Gould (Kharine 46); Mjallby (Johnson 67), Boyd (Healy 46), Tebily (Wieghorst 76); Kolkka (Petta 61), Thompson (Berkovic 77), Lennon (Burchill 77), Lambert (Moravcik 61), McNamara (Agathe 46); Sutton (Crainey 76), Larsson (Maloney 77).

ATT: 17,337. BBC

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QPR Official Site - BHOYS COME TO TOWN

The Club are delighted to announce details of a prestigious pre-season friendly against Scottish giants Celtic.

The R's will play host to the reigning Bells Scottish Premier League Champions on Sunday 15th July (kick-off 2.00pm), after contract negotiations with the Glasgow-based side reached a conclusion on Tuesday afternoon.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Chairman Gianni Paladini revealed his delight at securing the lucrative friendly against the 41-time Champions of Scotland.

"It's a terrific fixture for the Club,'' he said.

"It's a huge honour for us to play host to a Club of Celtic's size and we're expecting a good crowd to mark the occasion.''

The fixture against Gordon Strachan's side will be a joint celebration for the Hoops of both sides.

In the year that the R's celebrate the 40th anniversary of our League Cup Final win against West Bromwich Albion at Wembley, 2007 also marks the anniversary of the Bhoys' 1967 European Champions Cup triumph against Internazionale Milan in Lisbon.

The Celtic victory is widely regarded as the greatest in the Scottish Club's history, with the 11 players dubbed the Lisbon Lions - the first non-Latin side to win the European Cup.

Jock Stein was credited with creating the winning side, of which all the players were born within a 30 mile radius of Glasgow.

Stein had joined as Manager in March 1965 and within weeks Celtic had won the Scottish Cup for the first time in 11 years - they had previously been beaten in four finals.

He led the team to many more triumphs - including a second European Cup Final four years later, where the Bhoys lost to Dutch side Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Celtic's domestic record is highly impressive, with Strachan's side registering title number 41 earlier this season, with an injury-time free-kick from Shunsuke Nakamura clinching a 2-1 victory against Kilmarnock - a result which left Celtic 13 points clear of arch-rivals Glasgow Rangers with four matches remaining.

And the Bhoys - who last visited Loftus Road in the pre-season of 2002 - could be set to add yet another trophy to their glistening cabinet, when they lock horns with Dunfermline Athletic in the Tennants Scottish Cup Final on Saturday afternoon.

*Ticket details will be announced in due course. QPR

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Update: According to the QPR Official Site, Stewart IS in the Jamaica squad for the Chile game! Assuming that's correct, then the original blog post "No Damion Stewart in Jamaica Squad For Chile Friendly" is obviously incorrect! However a couple of Jamaica newspapers and the unofficial Reggaeboyzs site doen't list him. (They list Donald Stewart)


QPR Official Site STEWART SELECTED
R's defender Damion Stewart has been called up to the Jamaica squad for their forthcoming friendly against Chile.
The 26 year-old, who shone during his first full season in W12, will travel to the National Stadium in Kingston for the Reggae Boyz' international friendly on Tuesday 5th June.
Stewart joins a host of Premiership and Championship players in the squad, including Stoke City front-man Ricardo Fuller, Sheffield United striker Luton Shelton and versatile Bolton defender Ricardo Gardner. QPR Official Site

[The Jamaica Observer listed squad also does not have Damion Stewart in the squad. It has Donald Stewart = Jamaica Observer

[The Official Jamaica Football FederationJamaica Football Federation does not, at this writing yet list the squad -]

Jamaica vs Chile - June 5

Technical Director Bora Milutinovic, has named a 24 member training squad comprised of local and internationally based players to represent Jamaica in a friendly international against 37th ranked Chile on Tuesday, June 5 at the National Stadium.

Included in the list of local players are Harbour View's diminutive, hard working midfielder Richard Edwards, who is getting his first call to the national program and former representative Wolry Wolfe from Portmore United who has been missing from the national program for some time. They will be joined by overseas-based players, Ricardo Fuller of Stoke City, Sheffield United's Luton Shelton, Bolton Wanderers Ricardo Gardner, AIK Stockholm's Khari Stephenson and former Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 representative Sean Fraser who currently plays for Miami FC. The other members of the squad are all home-based and have been called at different times since Bora took over in January.

The full list of players are: Andre Redwood, Mario Harrison, Allien Whittaker, Nicholy Finlayson, Jermaine Taylor, Demar Phillips, Donald Stewart, Richard McCallum, Fabian Taylor, Lovel Palmer, Wolry Wolfe, Christopher Harvey, Mario Swaby, Richard Edwards, Adrian Reid, Ricardo Gardner, Keneil Moodie, Luton Shelton, Donovan Davis, Sean Fraser, Fabian Davis, Ricardo Fuller and Xavian Virgo.-
Jamaica

See Also: Jamaica Player Profiles

Also: Jamaica Gleaner - Jamaica Squad

Gardner heads Bora's list for friendly against Chile
published: Wednesday | May 23, 2007

BOLTON WANDERERS' defender Ricardo Gardner heads a list of 24-players called up by Jamaica's technical director Bora Milutinovic for theJune 5 friendly international against Chile.

The 28-year-old Gardner, who missed most of the recent season through injury, is one of five overseas-based professionals included in the training squad.

Gardner, Jamaica's most accom-plished player, will be joined by Luton Shelton of English Premiership team Sheffield United, Sean Fraser of Miami FC, Ricardo Fuller of English Championship side Stoke City and Khari Stephenson of AIK Stockholm.

Fuller and Shelton are already in the island, while Gardner, Fraser and Stephen-son are expected to arrive soon.

Excluded

Excluded is Watford's prolific striker Marlon King who was slapped with a two-year ban from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) earlier this year.

Local-based players, however, dominate the squad with six players included from champions Harbour View.

SQUAD: Ricardo Gardner (Bolton Wanderers), Luton Shelton (Sheffield United), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City), Sean Fraser (Miami FC), Khari Stephenson (AIK Stockholm), Andre Redwood, Allien Whittaker (JDF), Jermaine Taylor, Donald Stewart, Fabian Taylor, Lovel Palmer, Christopher Harvey, Richard Edwards (Harbour View); Mario Harrison, Nicholy Finlayson (Reno); Demar Phillips, Richard McCallum (Waterhouse); Wolry Wolfe, Mario Swaby, Adrian Reid (Portmore United); Keneil Moodie (Seba); Donovan Davis (St. George's); Fabian Davis (Tivoli), Xavian Virgo (Boys' Town).
Jamaica Gleaner

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QPR Official Site - Lee Cook "I'm Happy Here"

Midfield maestro Lee Cook has reiterated his desire to remain at his boyhood Club.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the R's Player's Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year confessed he hopes to stay with the Club he supported as a boy and help them fulfil their potential under the guidance of John Gregory next season.

"I'm happy here - I want to stay at QPR,'' said Cook.

"Anything can happen between now and August 31st, but I didn't sign an improved contract last summer just to go and leave one year on.

"Like the rest of the lads in the squad, I'm looking forward to returning to pre-season training in early July.''

Cook readily admits his future could lie in the hands of others though, commenting: "Money talks and if the Club accept a bid for me then it's out of my hands.

"I've lived part one of the dream of playing for the Club I supported as a boy and the next step is to play for the R's in the Premiership.''

"But I've lived part one of the dream of playing for the Club I supported as a boy and the next step is to play for the R's in the Premiership.''

Cook provided 13 assists and scored three goals in the Championship last season, but he believes the best is yet to come from him and his team-mates.

"I think we showed exactly what we are capable of during the last few months of the season,'' he said.

"We've got the nucleus of a very good squad and with a few fresh faces, there's no reason why we can't fulfil our potential next season.''

"I've spoken to the gaffer and I know he wants to add to the squad in the summer and when you look at the players he's already brought in since he arrived here, that can only be positive.

"We've got the nucleus of a very good squad and with a few fresh faces, there's no reason why we can't fulfil our potential next season.'' QPR

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QPR Official Site - JG'S NUMBERS GAME

John Gregory finds himself playing a numbers game, as he attempts to build a squad capable of improving upon last season's 18th place finish in the Championship.

The Rangers gaffer is prepared to work around the clock over the next few weeks, as he looks to add to the R's playing squad ahead of the new season.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Gregory revealed he is eager to get down to business - although he doesn't expect it to be easy.

"There's a lot of work to be done and I just want to get on with business over the next six weeks or so.

"I don't foresee anything happening in the immediate future, probably more so when we're back in pre-season at the end of June.''

Gregory added: "I've lost, or rather let go, 17 players and although I'm still left with 21, that includes players like Tommy Doherty, Zesh Rehman, Nicky Ward and Sean Thomas who were all out on loan last season.

"There are also probably three of four more within the squad who are unlikely to feature next season, but they're under contract with us, so we will be looking into the possibility of putting them out on loan.''

"I've probably got about 12-14 players that I would consider to be likely to be involved in the starting line-up.

"We can't look at Michael Mancienne and Jimmy Smith at this stage, because the ball is very much in Chelsea's court.

"I've probably got about 12-14 players that I would consider to be likely to be involved in the starting line-up.''

"I don't foresee a decision on those two until two or even three weeks into pre-season, but that is the way we'd want it, because it allows us to get the maximum time with the players in terms of their loan spell.''

Despite highlighting the need to strengthen in the goalkeeping department, Gregory is keen to add to all areas of the squad.

"I'm looking at strengthening all positions,'' he said.

"We've obviously only got one senior goalkeeper on our books in Jake Cole, so that without question is an area I'm looking at.

"(Adam) Bolder and (Danny) Cullip were both free transfers and with the limited budget I have, I'll be looking for players of their ilk yet again.

"It's not going to be easy - we don't have an open chequebook, but I'm quite confident we can improve the playing squad.''

"It's not going to be easy - we don't have an open chequebook, but I'm quite confident we can improve the playing squad.''
QPR Official Site

-
UPDATED:
re Martin Allen and Leicester
BBC -Mandaric to hold talks with Allen
Leicester have been given permission to speak to MK Dons boss Martin Allen about their vacant managerial post.
BBC Five Live reports that Allen is favourite for the job ahead of Neil Warnock and Nigel Worthington.

A club statement said: "Leicester have been given permission by MK Dons to speak to Martin Allen with regards to the vacant managerial position.

"Chairman Milan Mandaric will hold talks with Allen later this week as part of the recruitment process."

Allen, 41, guided MK Dons to the League Two play-offs, where they lost in the semi-final to Shrewsbury.

He has only spent one season at MK Dons but had already built a reputation as one of the game's brightest young managers when he was at Brentford.

606: DEBATE
Who should Mandaric go for?

The news will come as a disappointment to Warnock, who would have been hoping to make a swift return to football after his departure from Bramall Lane.

Mandaric recently told the Leicester Mercury: "Neil Warnock is a good and experienced manager and may be under consideration.

"But he is only one of several on the list I will be considering. As it is such an important decision, I will not be rushed.

"I have had no dialogue with him or anyone else."

Worthington took over as caretaker manager of the Foxes in April after the departure of Rob Kelly.

He helped steer the club away from relegation and was also on the shortlist - but also looks to have lost out to Allen. BBC

QPR are laying a new Pitch - "Pitching In" - QPR Official Site

No Nick Ward in the Australia Squad. " Australia have named a severely depleted squad for the friendly international against Uruguay on June 2, with injury and unavailability preventing coach Graham Arnold from selecting a full-strength line-up..... -
Australia squad: Daniel Allsopp, Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bridge, Nick Carle, David Carney, Simon Colosimo, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Ryan Griffiths, Brett Holman, Brad Jones, Patrick Kisnorbo, Scott McDonald, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Mile Sterjovski, Matthew Spiranovic, Shane Stefanutto, Michael Thwaite, Archie Thompson, Carl Valeri, Luke Wilkshire. Squad

Lee Harper was one of the players released by MK Dons - BBC


According to the Daily Mirror/BBC Gossip, Martin Allen is set for the Leicester Managership - BBC Gossip

BBC -Allen tipped to net Leicester job
MK Dons boss Martin Allen is set to get the nod ahead of Neil Warnock to take over as Leicester City's new manager.
Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric revealed Warnock, who left Sheffield United after they were relegated, was on a four-man shortlist.
But BBC Radio Five Live reports that Allen has now been approached to take over at the Walkers Stadium.
Allen, 41, guided MK Dons to the League Two play-offs, where they lost in the semi-final to Shrewsbury.
He is set to agree a three-year deal with Mandaric and may take coaches Dave Hockaday and Adrian Whitbread with him from MK Dons to Leicester.
Allen has only spent one season at MK Dons but had already built a reputation as one of the game's brightest young managers when he was at Brentford.
The news will come as a disappointment to Warnock, who would have been hoping to make a swift return after his departure from Bramall Lane.
Mandaric recently told the Leicester Mercury: "Neil Warnock is a good and experienced manager and may be under consideration.
"But he is only one of several on the list I will be considering. As it is such an important decision, I will not be rushed.
"I have had no dialogue with him or anyone else..." BBC

"Crouch left fretting over starting role as he bids to silence rivals" - The Times

Peter Crouch set for the Championship Final "Crouch is the man Milan fear, says Kaka"
By Matt Gatward - The Independent

Peter Crouch - "Crouch: 'Once we have won the Champions League final I will look back and think how far I've come' The Independent

Ian Evatt and Marcus Bean (Blackpool) versus Terrell Forbes and Mathew Rose (Yeovil) Prepare for the Playoff Final at Wembley, May 27.

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One year ago, QPR announced that Ugo Ukah (Ukah Ugochukwu) had left QPR to join the Italian club Nourese Calcio. And that was that. The pre-season came; Squad numbers were handed out...Press pre-season previews listed Ukah as one of the players having been released by QPR.
Then suddenly, one day in a Reserve match, the name Ukah was the name of one the QPR Reserve players...And it belatedly came out that the Ukah transfer had fallen through and he'd been back at QPR. It was just never announced by the club.
In January, he was released a second time. He is now at the Italian Club
GIULIANOVA CALCIO S.R.L.
May 22nd 2006: QPR Announcement on its Official Site:

UGO A GO-GO
The Club can confirm that Ugo Ukah has today joined Italian outfit Nourese Calcio on a free transfer.
Ukah, who made just two appearances for the R's, has signed a three year contract with the Serie C2 side.
Chairman Gianni Paladini confirmed the news to qpr.co.uk: "We've negotiated a fifty per-cent sell-on clause and we wish him all the best.''
The Nigerian defender, who joined the club in the summer of 2005, figured in back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Coventry City and Northampton Town in August.
'.....Stay tuned for qpr.co.uk for all the breaking news! QPR

SPORTING LIFE - ITALIAN JOB FOR UKAH
Defender Ugo Ukah has joined Italian side Nourese Calcio after failing to make an impact at QPR. Nigerian-born Ukah, lured to Loftus Road last summer, has penned a three-year deal with the Serie C2 side after making just two appearances for Rangers.
SPorting Life

QPR Official Site January 2007- Ukah Leaves -
QPR have terminated defender Ugo Ukah's contract with immediate effect.
The 22 year-old - who made just two appearances in all competitions since signing for the R's in the summer of 2005 - follows Egutu Oliseh and Ian Evatt out of the Loftus Road exit door." QPR

Ugo Ukah's QPR Timeline

August 2005, Ukah Plays for QPR on trial in Ibiza Tournament

July 20, 2005 - Ukah Signs for QPR on a free, apparently from the Italian club, Pro Vasta

January 2006: Holloway announces Ukah leaving

April 2006: Ukah one of the players Waddock announces is being released.

May 2006: QPR Announce Ukah's has gone to Italy.

November 2006: Ukah's name suddenly pops up as playing for QPR Reserves

November 25, 2006 - Ukah's name listed on the back of the QPR Programme, with the #40 shirt. (Official Site list of players does NOT currently list Ukah - Playing Squad)

BBC July 20, 2005 - QPR swoop for Nigerian defender
QPR have signed Nigerian defender Ugo Ukah on a three-year contract following a successful trial. Ukah, 21, played in Rangers' recent victory in the pre-season Copa de Ibiza tournament, and impressed boss Ian Holloway enough to earn a deal.
"Every day in training I give my all to improve, and Ian Holloway seems to like that," Ukah told the club's website. "I enjoyed my time in Ibiza, and to play in the final against Coventry there was amazing." BBC

QPR Official Site 2005-2006 Season
Name: Ugo Ukah
Nationality: Nigerian
Date of Birth: 18/01/1984
Height: 6' 0" (183cm)
Weight: 12st 11lbs (81.26kg)
Previous Clubs: QPR
QPR completed the signing of Ugo Ukah on a three year deal after a successful trial with the club.
Despite a series of promising outings for the Reserves, Ukah - who can play in the centre of defence or at right back - has failed to make the breakthrough to first team level and was placed on the transfer list by Gary Waddock in April 2006.
-QPR

BBC - Janaury 4, 2006 Ukah going as Holloway wields axe
An attempted clear-out is imminent at Loftus Road
Defender Ugo Ukah has been told he can leave Queens Park Rangers.
The Nigerian has made just two first-team appearances since being brought to the club by chairman Gianni Paladini last summer.
Manager Ian Holloway is set to tell at least four other players they are not in his plans and should move on.
"Some lads haven't done it for me. I've told Ugo that he can go and I'll be telling others the same. We need to move forward," said Holloway.
"I want to add to the squad. If I can't buy anyone I'll at least look to bring people in on loan." BBC

April 28, 2006 - QPR Official Site Players Released
Today, following talks with Gary Waddock, several players have been released from Queens Park Rangers.
Those who still have contracts outstanding will be placed on the transfer list and those who have come to the end of their deals will be released.
Georges Santos, Richard Langley, Sammy Youssouf, Marcin Kus, Ryan Johnson and Luke Townsend will not be offered new deals by the club.
Stefan Moore, Tommy Doherty, Ian Evatt, Ugo Ukah, Marcus Bignot, Steve Lomas, Matthew Hislop and Marc Bircham will all be placed on the transfer list....
Official Site

July 21, 2005 Football: QPR contract for Ukah after trial
Independent, The (London), Jul 21, 2005
The Nigerian defender Ugo Ukah has signed a three-year deal with Queen's Park Rangers following a trial spell. The 21-year-old, who played for Italian club Reggina last season, was involved in Rangers' victory in the Copa de Ibiza, and impressed the manager Ian Holloway enough to be given a contract. 'Every day in training I give my all to improve, and Ian Holloway seems to like that,' Ukah said.
Independent

SkySports Olly wants assurances
By Alex Dunn - Created on 14 Sep 2005
Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway is to seek assurances from the club's hierarchy before putting pen-to-paper on a new five-year deal....
The popular chief is unhappy that some of the players brought into the club in the summer were not those hand picked by himself..."In the summer there were three players (believed to be Mauro Milanese, Ugo Ukah and Marc Nygaard) signed who I don't know much about - and that can't be right. "I will back my judgement (of players) all day long, and I don't need people telling me what to do.... Sky

November/ 2005 QPR Board Q&A with Paladini
Q: What is the truth behind the stories that you signed players over the head of Holloway?
A:My background is an agent and I know many players. We couldn't afford many players in England so we looked abroad. I brought over Milanese, Nygaard and Ukah. Ian Holloway was able to look at them before they were signed. Q&A

Dave's Queens Park Rangers Site- 32. Ugo Ukah
"... The deal came about after Ukah's previous club Reggina ran into financial problems in Italy. Ukah was ironically sharing a room with Dan Shittu on a Nigerian tour of London when he got the call from Gianni Paladini to join QPR on trial, which he gratefully accepted. Paladini had become aware of the 21 year old after he impressed in an under 21 tournament in Italy and Rangers beat off competition from several Italian clubs including Parma to get their man..."
- Dave's Queens Park Rangers

Also: QPR Report November 2006 "The Puzzling Return to QPR of Ugo Ukah"

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A quarter of a century ago: May 22nd 1982 QPR's first - and so far, sole - FA Cup Final.

Terry Venables Queens Park Rangers against Keith Burkinshaw's Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. (Unfortunately QPR drew the first game after extra time and lost the replay - robbed!). If Allen hadn't been injured so soon in the game...If Roeder hadn't been suspended in the replay...If Wicks hadn't been cup-tied for both games. But especially the injury to Allen...And a bit more luck, QPR would have won it.

QPR
Hucker
Fenwick Hazell Roeder Gillard
Gregory Waddock Currie Flanagan
Allen Stainrod
Sub: Micklewhite

Spurs
Clemence
Hazard Hughton Miller Price
Perryman Roberts Galvin Hoddle
Crooks Archibald
Substitutes: Brooke

QPR 1-1 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough 2 QPR 3

Blackpool 0 QPR 0
QPR 5 Blackpool 1

QPR 3 Grimsby 1

QPR 1 Crystal Palace 0

QPR 1 WBA 0

The Final
Comprehensive Covergae at Wikipedia on 1982 Cup Final and the path there

A "Where Are They Now:" Gregory and Waddock and Roeder is well known. Allen is coach at Spurs.

See also: FA Cup Archives 1981-1982

See 2002 QPR Net Interview with Peter Hucker - QPR Net/Hucker Q&A

See: 2003 QPR Net Interview with Gary Waddock - QPR Net/Waddock Q&A

TOFFS DVD
Tottenham Hotspur v QPR 1982 FA Cup Final DVD.
Product Code: dvd2544
Tottenham Hotspur v Queens Park Rangers 1982 FA Cup Final

The unforgettable cup success of 1981 paved the way for quite a remarkable season at White Hart Lane, as Keith Burkenshaw prepared his team for a four-pronged attack at both home and abroad. But it would be the FA Cup in which success would be tasted once again, as Tottenham overcame a spirited Queens Park Rangers after yet another Cup Final replay.

Aiming to equal Aston Villa’s record of seven FA Cup triumphs, Spurs were undoubtedly the stronger of the two teams, but a resilient Queens Park Rangers defence stood between them and the opening goal, and Wembley seemed destined to be heading for it’s first goalless FA Cup Final. But with only eleven minutes of extra time remaining, Glenn Hoddle’s goal appeared to clinch victory, only for Terry Fenwick to equalise just five minutes later to force a replay.

If the best was saved until last in the first clash, the replay was to be the exact opposite, with the match only six minutes old before witnessing it’s first pivotal moment. As Roberts looked to create an early opportunity, Currie’s challenge was deemed illegal, and Glenn Hoddle, like the five Wembley penalty takers before him, converted the spot by sending Hucker the wrong way.

Despite chances at both ends, Hoddle’s penalty kick proved decisive, and the solitary goal was enough to clinch Spur’s seventh FA Cup in their centenary year, and become the first team for twenty years to retain the trophy for two successive seasons, equalling the achievements of the Spurs’ teams of the early sixties who won the cup in both 1961 and 1962.

Relive and enjoy yet another landmark day in Tottenham Hotspur’s illustrious history, with the full ninety minutes of the replay and highlights from the first match in this specially produced programme DVD

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Update: The Celtic Friendly is now also being reported by Sporting Life and Teamalk - Just not on the QPR Official Site. [As noted on the QPR messageboard and the Celtic Official Site. Not yet on the QPR Official Site]

QPR versus Celtic - July 15th at Loftus Road

SPORTING LIFE
Strachan - two more friendly matches.
POSH AND RANGERS TESTS FOR CELTIC

Celtic will face Peterborough and QPR on a short trip to England midway through their pre-season campaign.

They will face Peterborough at London Road on Friday, July 13, before taking on QPR on Sunday, July 15 at Loftus Road.

The Peterborough trip sees the prospect of Gordon Strachan sitting in the opposite dugout to Darren Ferguson, the Posh manager and son of Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom the Celtic boss has had a strained relationship.

Celtic confirmed the rest of their fixtures, with matches against FC Basle (July 5) and Young Boys of Berne (July 7) arranged in Switzerland, and the games against MLS All-Stars (July 19) and Chicago Fire (July 22) confirmed in the United States.

Without a home friendly arranged, the closest match to home will be the July 26 clash with Sam Allardyce's Newcastle at St James' Park. Sporting Life




Celtic Official Site

celtic announce pre-season fixtures

Michael McGowan
SPL Champions Celtic will travel to Switzerland, England and America to take part in seven pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2007/2008 campaign.

Gordon Strachan’s men face Swiss sides FC Basel (Thursday, July 5) and Young Boys of Berne (Saturday, July 7) as part of a five-day trip to Berne, Switzerland.

After returning home to Scotland, Celtic will then travel down south to play Peterborough (Friday, July 13) and Queen's Park Rangers (Sunday, July 15).

Following those fixtures, the squad will fly to America, where the MLS All-Stars (Thursday, July 19) and Chicago Fire (Sunday, July 22) will provide the opposition in Denver and Chicago.

The Hoops’ pre-season schedule then takes them back to England for a glamour friendly with Newcastle United (Thursday, July 26) at St James’ Park.

Celtic’s pre-season fixture schedule:


Thursday, July 5, 2007 – FC Basel v Celtic
(Grenchen Stadium, 8pm kick-off)

Saturday, July 7, 2007 – Young Boys of Berne v Celtic
(Grenchen Stadium, 7.30pm KO)

Friday, July 13, 2007 – Peterborough United v Celtic
(London Road Stadium, 7.45pm KO)

Sunday, July 15, 2007 – Queen's Park Rangers v Celtic
(Loftus Road, 3pm KO)

Thursday, July 19, 2007 – MLS All-Stars v Celtic
(Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, 7pm KO)

Sunday, July 22, 2007 – Chicago Fire v Celtic FC
(Toyota Park, Bridgeview IL, 2pm KO)

Thursday, July 26, 2007 – Newcastle United v Celtic FC
(St James’ Park, 7.45pm KO)

(All dates and kick-offs are listed at local time and are subject to change)

Celtic

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QPR Holdings will hold its AGM, June 15.

The recently-released accounts for year ending, May 2006 showed a loss of over 3 million pounds for the year ending May 2006.

QPR Accounts - Released May 2007 for Accounts- Year Ending May 2006

QPR1st has an analysis of the Accounts,w hich can be read at QPR1st

Previous Year Accounts
QPR Accounts - February 2007 - Accounts - Year Ending May 31, 2005

QPR Accounts - May 2005 -- Accounts Year Ending May 2004

For additional background re PastAccounts/Finances (and other matters), see
Boardroom Blues
QPR1st Trust

QPR1st's report on the 2006 AGM

QPR1st report on 2005 AGM


As Reported: Some Statements by QPR Chairman Paladini About Past and Future Losses:

April - Fan Consultative Meeting
5. Accounts update
5.1 Why haven't the accounts been filed with Companies House? We were told they would be filed by 31st March 2007?
GP replied that the accounts for the year end May 2006 have been filed; that they'll be in the public domain soon; and that the AGM will follow, citing the 21 day period that has to be given to inform shareholders of the meeting.

5.2 What does the total loss for the year stand at as we speak?
GP said that the loss is about the same as the last year, saying that we'd had to bring in playing staff, which added to the budget. QPR

March 2007
" When I took over at the club the losses were 4.5 million pounds - and now it is less than two [million pounds]. Next year we will probably break even and maybe even make a profit because the money from the players we sold this season will go into the budget for next year." - Interview with Gianni Paladini in The London Paper, March 14, 2007 by Matt Butler

March 12, 2007 - “....So many people said we would go into administration and it hasn’t happened. The debts have been reduced. “And I tell you this: QPR will make a profit next year – whatever division we’re in – and it will be the first time that has happened for many years. It will happen." - March 12, 2007 [Posted on Dave Barton's Queens Park Rangers FC Site(www.queensparkrangersfc.com )
David McIntyre - WE WON’T QUIT IF WE GO DOWN – PALADINI

August 1, 2006 - “The Club is in a better financial position than it has been in for a number of years. Things are still tough, but we have reduced the annual debt by millions and intend to reduce it further” (August 1, 2006) QPR Official Site

June 2006 - Next season will see further improvements and we expect the losses fall to below £1m - a significant improvement on the years before I became involved with the club. ...
...We have put our finances in order, our losses will continue to fall towards a break even situation QPR Official Site

May 2006 - Q Rivals :How much money will we lose this season and next?
A: This season, £1.7 million. Next season I hope we can break even, maybe if we only lose two hundred or three hundred thousand pounds I’d be a happy man” (May 2006)
... we're hoping to go close to breaking even next season, we've reduced costs across the board. We're definitely heading in the right direction. QPR Rivals

March 7, 2006 -
Gianni Paladini has issued the following statement following recent inaccurate reporting.
The total value of the debt in the 2005 accounts (ie the sum of the current liabilities and the long term liabilities) is £18m.The total value of the same debt in the 2004 accounts was £18m.In other words no change, but this is definitely not the impression conveyed by the headline.
As most fans know the biggest item in the total debt is the £10m loan from the ABC Corporation which was entered into in 2002 several years before the current regime took over.
Current liabilities fell in 2005 as the debts to the Customs & Revenue were reduced and short-term loans to shareholders were repaid.
You should also be aware that £2.8m of the total "debts" is for income for the 2005/06 season that was banked before the 31st May 2005 and, in accordance with standard accounting practice, is included in current liabilities as deferred income.The bulk of this deferred income is for season ticket receipts, which is being released in the 2005/06 financial year.
This means that the high value of the early bird season ticket sales for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons have increased the "debt" at the club's financial year end.So rather perversely the increase in deferred income is a positive sign and not an indication of "misery" as heralded by the Evening Standard.
The Standard did state that losses for the year were £2.5m but neglected to mention that was an improvement of £1.8m on the two previous years.This improvement was all the more impressive as it was achieved despite losing the revenue from Fulham ground sharing deal. Running costs have been reduced and supply contracts have been renegotiated.
I know these figures are wrong because I am so intimately involved in both the day-to-day running of the club, and its financial strategy and support. Along with my trusted friend and chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo, we have dug into our own pockets to pay off the debts we inherited when we took over - debts that, quite frankly, would have forced the club into liquidation if they had not been paid.
...The accounts for 2005 show a vast improvement on the previous years' results and the current projections for 2006 show that there will be another sizeable reduction in the clubs' net losses.However the Evening Standard states that the projected losses for the current season "could be as much as £4m" and will not be revealed until March 2007....
The club is currently working on its projections for next season and the board of directors are looking for further revenue opportunities and further cost savings as the club works towards a break-even situation.A more detailed update will be given to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM and a summary will then published on the QPR website. QPR

Paladini in Late 2005 - QPR Net interview
Next month I’m at the AGM, we will send the letter out soon and it will be held in February.
I have to sit down with all the shareholders face to face and tell them what we’ve done and show them the books, the actual books, not the rubbish that people who think they know more than me come up with.
The books will show that since I’ve been here the loss will go down from £4.5 million to £2.5 million. Next year it will go down again to £1.5 million .... Don’t judge me now, wait till you see it because it will all be there in black and white. Everyone is taking a shot at the moment but they are people who have their own agenda. They want us to fail, but if we fail then QPR fail..." QPR

March 2006 - “The accounts for 2005 show a vast improvement on the previous years’ results and the current projections for 2006 show that there will be another sizeable reduction in the clubs’ net losses” (March 2006)QPR

December 2005- “We are bringing the loss down every year and within a few years we hope to break even” (December 2005) Link


BBC - March 16, 2006
Paladini said: "Can anyone say QPR aren't in a better position than when I came in two years ago? "The losses are reduced and we are in a position to move forward. Everything is settled and we just want to get on with running the club. "This board have invested over £8m. Yes, some of that has been used to buy shares, but that is how much has been paid and that shows commitment." BBC March 16, 2006

December 29, 2005
"Thanks to some huge efforts in renewing its organization and bringing in some new investments, QPR are now sailing in safe waters. "We are optimistic when looking ahead for the New Year and for the whole of 2006, ...."Our hope and aim is that QPR will never again have to struggle against organizational confusion and financial distress that have badly hit the good name of our glorious club. "A special mention must go to Ian Holloway, who has shown his passion and devotion to the club and as someone who gives us positive hopes for promotion. "We are proud of our players and we are confident that we can continue to strengthen our team with some new arrivals at the beginning of the next year. QPR

QPR1st REPORTS

QPR1st's report on the 2006 AGM
"...losses will be estimated for the end of the 2006 season to be between £1.7m - £2m.....
CP said they were expecting to improve revenue whilst hoping that the heads at LR will increase.
He then spoke about losses in previous years, saying how in 2003 the losses had been £4m; in 2004 they were £3.4m; 2005 £2.5m; estimated losses for 2006 are £1.7m - £2m; and going forward the estimate for the year after would be a loss of £0.8m – though the hope was to break even eventually for this period. QPR1st

QPR1st Report on 2005 AGM - July 2005
[Pre-Paladini becoming Chairman]
"...It was explained that Gianni Paladini is now a Director and his wife Olga, who previously represented his interests, had stood down. He then went on to state that, despite the success of achieving promotion in 2003/04, from a business perspective the financial year ended 31 May 2004 was disastrous. He emphasised that the accounts covered a period when the old executive team was in place and there were now considerably less people employed by the club who were collectively doing a lot more work than previously.
Kevin and Chris both said that the draft accounts to 31 May 2005 were indicating a loss of £2.5m. In the current year to 31 May 2006 the recently prepared budgets had been drawn up on the basis that the club would break even. However, in reality a loss of somewhere between £500k to £1m is anticipated unless the club have a good cup run or some other similar windfall. .." QPR1st

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BBC - Sunday, 20 May 2007
Gulls 'axe boss after 10 minutes'

Rosenior managed Torquay for four years in his first spell in charge
Leroy Rosenior has broken the record for the shortest ever tenure by a manager at an English club, BBC Five Live understands.
The former Brentford boss was sacked just 10 minutes after being introduced as Torquay's new manager on Thursday.
Rosenior, 43, was first-team coach at Plainmoor and was appointed as Keith Curle's successor.
The Gulls were relegated from the Football League two weeks ago and were put up for sale on Sunday. BBC


TORQUAY OFFICIAL STATEMENT - 5/17
Torquay Appoint New Manager

Torquay United are delighted to announce the appointment of our new manager Leroy Rosenior.

leroy-rovers

Leroy previously led The Gulls to promotion to league one in 2004. Torquay United believe that Leroy is the ideal man to head The Gulls in their campaign to regain Football League status following our relegation into the Blue Square Premier.

Leroy's career has seen him play for West Ham, QPR, Fulham and Bristol City. He has held coaching/managerial roles at Shrewsbury, Brentford and of course most famously at Torquay.

Leroy is keen to restore some stability to the playing side and said:

" The club (Torquay United) is very low at the moment. Everything is going to stem from what happens on the pitch next season, I am aware of that and I am not pretending its going to be easy. The supporters know the way I like to see my team play and we will be getting the best players available to come to Torquay." The quality of football played by Torquay in their promotion season of 2004 is something all fans will recall.

Leroy added "Success may not come overnight and I want players coming to this club that are dedicated to the cause and are proud to wear the shirt!."

"I am obviously delighted to be back at Torquay, I know the club inside out and I am confident that I can repeat the successful times but I also recognise how tough it can be in this division. People have said the structure at Torquay is wrong, its not wrong, its just different. It worked before and it will work again. We are on a budget but budgets can be worked to. I will be working 'part time' in the sense that I am being paid a part time wage for a full time job. I will be at the club on a full time basis, I obviously have my commitments with Sierra Leone, but that will not interfere with my position here at Torquay."

"I am enthused to be back here, in a lot of senses I wish I had never left. The Torquay United fans are amongst the best I have ever met, they are as honest as the day is long - and I like that. If you see me in the street, come and talk to me, if you want to watch us train - come on over. I want to hear what you've got to say".

Joining the Torquay United team alongside Leroy is John Milton. John will be assisting Leroy in the scouting and recruitment of players.

John is a huge fan of Torquay United and is providing his services on a voluntary basis. John also currently scouts for Northampton, Yeovil and Grimsby.

John said "Leroys heart is in Torquay. Even after he left he was always checking in with me after I had watched them play asking what they looked like. Leroy is very respected in what he does and over the last 24 hours Leroy and I have been talking to a lot of players and the high regard with which Leroy is held, shows".

Everyone at Torquay would like to welcome Leroy & John on board.
Torquay Statement

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May 27: Recent QPR faceoffs Ian Evatt (and maybe Marcus Bean) for Blackpool versus Darrel Forbes (and maybe Matt Rose) for Yeovil - In the League One Playoff Final at Wembley! Both Evatt and Rose were in the QPR squad at the very begining of the 2006-07 season. Final

Jim Smith says staying on as Oxford United Manager

Oxford United -Official Site
Jim Smith has confirmed to Yellow World that he will remain as manager at Oxford United, and that United's play-off semi final defeat has only served to fuel his hunger for the game.
Jim retains the same energy and drive which have made him a legend in English football, and revealed that the discussion as to whether he would stay as manager of the U's was a short one:
"We didn't really have too many discussions about it. Nick wanted me to stay and be the manager and I probably want to be manager more now than ever, because I am even more determined to get Oxford back into the Football League. We were all disappointed and down, and it was hard to take, but that is football and over all we had a great season. We just didn't put the icing on the cake like we should have.
"People will leave, people will come in, and then we will start again in what I'm sure will be a very tough league."
After a season in the Conference the United boss now feels the club may be better equipped for the challenge of the Blue Square Premier League:
"You do get over the culture shock a bit, and we know what to expect. We know that teams will come and double their efforts here, and we know that we have got to get more consistent. Dagenham never had a bad spell, and that made it nigh on impossible for any of us to catch them.
"We know you need to take your chances: over the two legs of the play-offs we missed three open goals which would have put us at Wembley. We have to try and rectify that, although it's the hardest position to fill. But there have been good finishers at non-league and maybe we have to look at that a little bit: players who know the non-league rather than those you think are better players because they are 'league' players. "

As far as Jim is concerned, resilience is the key as United fight back:

"Football, life even, is all about disappointment round one corner and having to get over it and get on with it. But we are better equipped for next year: we know what we are facing, we know where we are training, we know our game plan and we are all looking forward to it. We come back on July 3rd for pre-season but the hard work starts now to get things right for next time.

"The most important thing I have to do is find and sign the four or five players we need to get it right. Then Darren Patterson and Jordan Milsom can sort the training out and I'll just stand and watch!" Oxford Site
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BBC - MARTIN ALLEN
Allen confident over Dons future
MK Dons boss Martin Allen is confident his side can bounce back from their play-off defeat by Shrewsbury.
The Dons lost their League Two semi-final 2-1 and Allen said: "It has not been a great first year in charge for me but it was certainly a good one.

"We are looking forward to playing in the new stadium and there is definitely a mood of optimism about the place now.

"We have converted a lot of fans which will only continue at the new ground. Things will get better and better." BBC

Danny Dichio returned from suspension to play for Toronto against DC United (in Toronto). Toronto lost 2-1 and Dichio was substitute after 72 minutes. Report

DANNY DICHIO
Dichio brings new attitude to Toronto; Rugged forward returns after suspension

Danny Dichio is large and menacing, and his club resume includes a stint with an English club reputed to be meaner than most.

But appearances can be deceiving, argues the Toronto FC striker.

Dichio returns from a one-game suspension today when Toronto hosts D.C. United.

The shaven-headed forward, most recently with Preston North End but once of infamous Millwall, has a pair of Toronto franchise firsts after just one game: first goal and red card.

Dichio says he plays hard, but fair.

"I'm six foot four and a big strong ugly giant,"Dichio said. "But I'm a family man, I just go out on the field and do my job for the team. If that causes unrest in the defence of the opposing team, then so be it."

Toronto goes for its third straight victory at BMO Field, a streak sparked by Dichio when he scored the team's first goal last Saturday in a 3-1 win over Chicago. Dichio was ejected after 44 minutes for a goalmouth melee.

D.C. United midfielder Kasali Yinka Casal, who shares the same hometown as Dichio - the London borough of Hammersmith - said he wasn't surprised to see the 32-year-old Toronto player sent off.
"He comes from Millwall. That's got to be the most vicious team in all of England," Casal told reporters in Washington. "No one wants to go play at Millwall. They're tough, and they've got the craziest fans. That's just natural for him, really."
Dichio laughed at Casal's remarks.
"Millwall kind of has a reputation about it," he said. "But I don't really have a mean streak back in England. I think I have to adapt to the referees decisions over here, and, not calm my game down but try to be a bit more clever in certain situations."
Toronto (2-4-0) has surged past D.C. United (1-3-1) in the Eastern Conference standings. But coach Mo Johnston was concerned about the aches and pains of some of his players heading into heir third game in eight days and fourth straight on the artificial turf of BMO Field. Dichio

[NB: Dichio was at Millwall in 2004-05 See Wikipedia/Dichio]

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SWINDON TOWN: Consortium challenge Town over investor
By Andy Cryer

Andrew Andronikou, Town's CVA supervisor, above, has revealed a major new investor could be set to help Swindon Town Football Club.
AFTER months of stand-offs and frustration, fans consortium leader Mike Wilks is urging Town to clear up all the takeover uncertainty one way or the other.
While the Bill Power-backed consortium still wait for an Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to be signed to allow talks to begin, revelations of a new investor have thrown their bid into even more doubt.
Wilks insists they will concede defeat if the club can show proof of the imminent deal but warns the clock is ticking if it proves to be yet another false dawn.
Swindon Town released a statement yesterday insisting the deal was well under way but refused to provide details until it had been sealed.
Wilks has urged them to either finalise the mystery deal' and make it public or stop stalling their own takeover bid and sign the NDA to allow talks between the club and the consortium to begin.
He warns any new investor would need at least £5 million to sort out the debts while insisting consortium backer Bill Power is still determined to help invest in the club's future.
Wilks said: "If they do have this mysterious backer who is about to plough millions into the club, then fair enough. Announce who it is and we will accept that.
"But time is running out fast and if this investment isn't as solid as made out then please start talking to us and trying to sort out the future.
"Paul Sturrock is making noises he will have a small budget for next season and is warning fans not to expect too much.
"Quite honestly they should be investing in this football club, not talking about reducing the budgets. We should be building on promotion. I know Bill Power will invest in players."
CVA supervisor Andrew Andronikou said on Tuesday that the deal would secure the club's long-term future, but Wilks admits he is still wary, citing the club's accounts as a cause for concern.
He said: "The accounts show this club is effectively bankrupt. This is as damning an indictment of a set of accounts as I have ever seen.
"Whoever this mysterious investor is is going to have to have pretty deep pockets because about £5million is needed just to drag it back to square one.
"For me the timing of the CVA is baffling because it states in black and white the last payment is due in June. How does Andronikou figure there is another year to pay it?"
He added: "They have said there is a mystery backer about five or six times already. I really don't know what to think anymore.
"If I was in their position I would be very keen to avoid any disruption for as long as I could because they are about to get a quarter of a million pounds through season ticket sales.
"Why would they pre-announce this now? If there is a serious investor why would they not come out and say who it was?
"The problem we have is they don't want to play ball. We can't force someone to sit down and talk to us.
"Since September 11 when I offered the opportunity to sit down with an NDA, the offer has been on the table.
"It has not changed one iota. Why they feel they are in such a strong position is baffling to me.
"It is the ordinary fan I feel sorry for because they must be wondering what on earth is going on.
"There are a number of people in the consortium who are willing and able to invest the funds needed to stabilise the situation and put the club on a sound footing for the future.
"The fact that Bill Power and Phil Emmel have stuck around for the last nine months shows their commitment to the club and to moving forward."
A club statement said: "Like all complex deals of this nature, although the majority of the issues have been agreed, nothing has yet has been confirmed in writing.
"The club will update the STFC fanbase further as soon as it is prudent to do so."
This is Wiltshire

This is Swindon Town - 'Investor can take us back where we belong'
CLIFF Puffett has urged Town fans to embrace any potential new investor and insists the ‘mystery backer’ could be just what is needed to reawaken a ‘sleeping giant’.
In the wake of the revelation that a new investor is tantalisingly close to securing Town’s long-term future, the former Swindon chairman insists it can only be good news for the club.

Puffett reveals he had already heard whispers of a potential big-money investor over the past few weeks and is confident a deal can be pushed through in the not-too-distant future.

He said: “It is absolutely fantastic news for the club. You want what the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea have got, I know that is pie in the sky but we can at least dream.

“This investment, if it happens, would be a tremendous breath of fresh air and would give the club the chance of getting back to the sort of status it should be.

“We want to be in the Championship at least. I think we have shown in the last few weeks we are bigger club than where we are and maybe the investment will help us realise that.”

News of a potential deal has brought about inevitable cynicism from long-standing Town fans, who have heard it all before, but for Puffett it is a time to rejoice.

He said: “I have been out on the street and have only heard a good response coming from people. I have to admit I am surprised if anyone was questioning how good news this was.

“When Town were in Division One they wanted to be a Championship club and that has not changed. We have had crowds of over 14,000 in recent weeks and that shows our potential. This town could support the Championship and perhaps people can now start dreaming of that actually happening.”

With a feel-good factor already evident in the town after promotion to League One just a fortnight ago, Puffett is hopeful that vibrancy can now remain.

He said: “This is the icing on the cake for me. As I said before it is fantastic news.

“This club is somewhat of a sleeping giant but perhaps it is about to be woken up.

“Sir Seton Wills has dug in year in year out to keep the club going and I am sure this news would come as a tremendous relief for him as well.”

Trust’s cautious welcome

WHILE former club chairman Cliff Puffett has welcomed the potential backer with open arms, TrustSTFC continue to reserve a “cautious welcome”.

Following fans’ consortium leader Mike Wilks’ remarks in Thursday’s Advertiser that they would step aside if the club can prove a new deal is imminent, TrustSTFC have released their own statement.
It said: “The board of TrustSTFC have given a cautious welcome to news from the CVA supervisor Andrew Andronikou that Swindon Town are in negotiations with possible new investors, but we still harbour severe concerns over the long-term survival of the football club.

“Mr Andronikou was quoted as saying the club is close to a deal that would ‘secure the clubs future for the next three to four years’. A surprising claim given that the fans’ consortium has had the funds and expertise in place to secure the club’s short and long-term future since November of last year, and as yet the club has still failed to sit down and talk seriously to the Consortium backers about a deal.

“We welcome new investment in the football club, but injections of cash are only half the story. How that money is spent is at least as important if not more so.

“The fans’ consortium offer for the club, first made last November, remains on the table, and the consortium is still committed to entering into negotiations with the present owners.” This is Swindon Town

This is Swindon Town - Editorial
The white knight or a false dawn?
COULD this really be the news every Town fan has been waiting for? Could that ‘white knight’ really be about to ride to the rescue and steer the club towards a brighter future?
You can’t blame anyone – particularly those backing Bill Power’s rival consortium – for showing more than a little cynicism towards the latest news of a potential ‘new investor’ at the County Ground.
After all many supporters will be quick to say: “We have heard it all before.’’

Seasoned Town observers will be more than a little cautious – it’s not the first time talk of fresh investment at SN1 has been bandied about.

But when the CVA supervisor, the man with a sizeable say in the fate of the club, comes out with such an announcement, surely it has to carry that bit more credence?

No-one should – or will be – getting carried away before any investor is officially announced and plenty of questions will be asked – particularly by the Swindon Advertiser – in the next few days and weeks about the exact details.

But on the back of a return to League One, it could be just the news the club needs to kick on.

It is to be hoped this latest revelation will not prove a false dawn, or another shot in the propaganda war which has raged over the past few months. This is Swindon Town

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One current...One Past: Dexter Blackstock and Clive Allen:

Current QPR star, Dexter Blackstock Turns 21
Wikipedia Blackstock Profile Made his QPR against Southend, back in August and scored (QPR winning 2-0). Ended the season as QPR's top scorer with 13 goals.
Blackstock's Playing Record at Oxford, Southampton, Derby and Plymouth on loan. and QPR - Blackstock Record
Blackstock Profile
Four Four Two Interview with Blackstock

Former QPR star, Clive Allen turns 46
Wikipedia Allen Profile
Son of QPR great,Les Allen...Brother of Bradley Allen....Cousin of Martin Allen...
Made his debut in 1978/79 including a hatrick versus Coventry, on his full debut.
The following season was leading scorer in the old Second Division (playing alongside Paul Goddard).
Allen was then Sold to Arsenal...First Million Pound Teenager...
After a month at Arsenal, joined Crystal Palace.
And the following year was back at QPR, where he spent three season (including the Cup Final Season) and played three times for England, before going to Spurs. (Allen was injured early during the Cup Final. Otherwise, who's to say the final result)

August 2006: QPR Official Site - STRIKING A BALANCE
QPR have added to their attacking options by completing the signing of Southampton striker Dextor Blackstock, for an undisclosed fee.
The 20 year-old front-man today penned a three year contract at Loftus Road, and in doing so becomes Gary Waddock's seventh signing of the summer.
A scorer of three goals in just seven first team starts last season, Blackstock - who is a quick, athletic and powerful predator - is in line to make his debut against Southend United this weekend.
"It's great to be here,'' Blackstock told qpr.co.uk moments after putting pen to paper.
"It had all gone a bit stale for me at Southampton and the chance to move to London was just too good to turn down. It's a fresh challenge for me and I couldn't be any happier.
"I had a nice chat with Gary Waddock, who told me about the hunger and desire of the Rangers squad, so there was never any doubt I'd sign.
"I've always enjoyed playing at Loftus Road in the past, so I'm really excited about making my debut here.''
Waddock believes Blackstock will perfectly complement the group of strikers he currently has at his disposal, commenting: "He was at the top of my list when I first took over as Caretaker Manager, so I'm ecstatic.
"I've been monitoring his progress since he was a kid, so it's magnificent that we've finally got him on board.
"He's quick, intelligent and is a natural goalscorer.''
Chairman Gianni Paladini is delighted that the R's prolonged search for a striker is finally over, saying: "It's a huge signing for us - we've been after him for the last four months or so.
"He's the type of player Gary has been looking for and I'm delighted we've beat a number of top Club's to his signature.
"He's a young player, with superb potential and I'm confident he can achieve big things here.
"It's a sign of our intent that we've signed a player of his calibre and I'm sure the fans will join me in wishing him a successful stay at Loftus Road.''
QPR Official Site

Southampton Official Site
Dexter Blackstock has joined QPR for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old striker has moved on to the Londoners after three years on the south coast.
He joined Saints as a scholar from Oxford United but quickly became popular amongst fans after bagging a hat-trick against Colchester and scoring against local rivals Portsmouth in the 2004/5 season.
The arrivals of Grzegorz Rasiak and Bradley Wright Philips this season however have pushed Blackstock down the pecking order prompting his switch to the capital.
Blackstock has today put pen to paper on a three year deal at Loftus Road.
Southampton

Skysport - Rangers agree fee for Blackstock
By Peter ORourke - Created on 8 Aug 2006
Skysports.com understand Queens Park Rangers have agreed a fee with Southampton for striker Dexter Blackstock.
Rangers opened negotiations with The Saints over a possible transfer and, after the Loftus Road outfit were initially thwarted, the club have now agreed a price in the region of £500,000.
Blackstock was also the subject of a failed bid from Championship rivals Wolves, while Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday have registered an interest as well.
Rangers boss Gary Waddock is a keen admirer of the front man and made his interest known after Bradley Wright-Phillips's arrival at St Mary's restricted the former Oxford man's first team opportunities.
Rangers now appear to have jumped to the head of a queue of clubs for Blackstock, and are expected to open contract talks with the 20-year-old shortly.
Blackstock joined Saints from Oxford in May 2003 for a fee of £275,000 and, after a loan spell at Plymouth in the previous season, spent two months of the last campaign at Derby Skysports

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BBC - Waddock keen to take Shots chance
Gary Waddock is determined to make the most of his return to management with Conference club Aldershot.
"It's a really great opportunity for me," said the former QPR manager, who has been installed as Shots boss on a two-year contract.
"It's a good, well-run club with potential and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in.
"I learnt an awful lot during my time at QPR both as a coach and a manager, and I want to put that to good use."
Waddock was a hugely popular player at QPR and joined the club's coaching staff when his playing career ended.
He was given the manager's job after Ian Holloway was axed, but his time in charge was blighted by poor results and behind-the-scenes problems.
He was replaced by John Gregory just eight games into the season, with Rangers bottom of the table.
"I won't ever hear a bad word said about QPR," Waddock insisted.
"It's my club and they gave me the opportunity to start my coaching career and then a wonderful opportunity to be the manager.
"Things didn't work out as I wanted them to. Now it's a case of learning from that and moving on." Waddock has shown he can bounce back from major setacks, having rebuilt a playing career that seemed to have been ended by injury.
Now the former Republic of Ireland midfielder is aiming to prove he can succeed in management.
"I've definitely had setbacks as both a player and a manager," he said.
"That gives you experiences to draw on as you try to improve yourself.
"I've got a burning desire to succeed as a manager - just like I had when I was a player - and I'm looking forward to this new challenge." BBC

Audio of former QPR Manager Gary Waddock on his challenges at Aldershot (with a few brief mentions of QPR) [No registration required to listen!] Gary Waddock Interview

Simon Royce Expresses Interest in Gillingham
Keeper keen on permanent Gills move
by Luke Cawdell
GOALKEEPER Simon Royce has expressed an interest in the returning to Gillingham, where he spent the last part of the season on loan.
Manager Ronnie Jepson will be targeting a stopper in the summer and may decide 35-year-old Royce fits the bill.
Royce said: "I'd drop a division to get regular first team football and it would be nice as it's only an hour down the road."
Tommy Black is another former Priestfield favourite fans would welcome back. He has been released by Crystal Palace and the winger is waiting to see what happens...
Neither player has been contacted by Gillingham. Kent Online

Good and Bad Night for Ex-QPRs
For Yeovil a good night, beating Nott Forest and reaching Wembley, with ex-QPR Terrell Forbes on the field and Matt Rose on the bench,
For MK Dons: A bad night who lost 1-2 in the playoff semi-final second leg, and so will be remaining in League 2. MK Dons, managed by ex-QPR, Martin Allen, and owned by Pete Winkelman - who tried to buy QPR - ended the match with three players who played for QPR, albeit briefly: Bankole, Knight and Dyer and one more on the bench (Lee Harper).
Milton Keynes Dons: Bankole, Edds, O'Hanlon, Diallo, Lewington (Knight 80), Stirling, Andrews, Blizzard (Taylor 90), Hayes (Dyer 67), Platt, McLeod.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Watts.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/6649779.stm

Saturday, it's Ian Evatt and Marcus Bean's Blackpool at home to Oldham (whose Chairman, Simon Blitz) was recently mentioned in the news vis-a-vis QPR.

Ex-QPR's Tony Roberts Still Awaiting News about Next Season
Daggers look to League
"...Manager John Still and assistant Terry Harris are sitting down with every player to review the club's promotion season on an individual basis and look ahead to the requirements of a new year in League Two.....
Issues that need to be ironed out include a compromise with goalkeeper Tony Robert's insurance company.
The former QPR stopper, now 37, was forced out of League football in 1998 after exacerbating a finger injury while with Milwall and accepted an estimated £150,000 insurance pay-out which prevents him playing professional football.
Still has been optimistic about Roberts' chances of a return however, saying: "We think we can work something out with the insurance people.
"Tony's a very valuable part of the team and he's earned the opportunity." . Roberts

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Oli Staying at Grays

BBC - Striker Oli signs new Grays deal
Oli had been linked with a move away from Grays
Grays Athletic striker Dennis Oli has signed a new two-year contract at Bridge Road.
The former QPR frontman, 23, had been linked with a move away from the Blues this summer but will now extend his two-and-a-half year stay. BBC

Grays - Player Contract News
May 17, 2007 -
Grays Athletic are pleased to announce that both Danny Knowles and Andy Sambrook have both signed new contracts which keep them at the club for a minimum of 1 year
Dennis Oli has signed a 2 year contract, Dennis said that he has turned down several offers from other clubs and wanted to stay with Grays Athletic where he is very happy
Grays

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Aldershot Official Site - Official Club Statement
We are pleased to announce the appointment of the new manager of Aldershot Town Football Club and new official club sponsors too.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW TEAM MANAGER AND OFFICIAL CLUB SPONSOR

Aldershot Town Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Gary Waddock as their new manager.

The 45 year old joins on a two year agreement and will have overall responsibility on first team, reserve and youth team football matters at the club in addition to providing a guidance and overview to the junior section too.

He will be responsible for all football related budgets.

Gary arrives after an extensive football career where he made over 500 senior appearances. The former midfielder includes periods at QPR, Luton Town, Millwall, Bristol Rovers and at Charleroi (Belguim). In addition he made 21 international appearances for the Republic of Ireland.

When former QPR manager Ian Holloway took charge of the west London side he appointed Gary to head the Academy section of the club and, eventually, Gary took responsibility of the reserve and youth team structure too. He also served as first team manager at the Championship club.

It is also confirmed that Martin Kuhl will remain at the club reverting back to his role as First Team Coach after serving a period as Caretaker Manager.


Chairman John McGinty commented, 'We are delighted that Gary has agreed to join the club as our manager.

"I apologise to supporters for the delay in naming the appointment but hope that they are enthused with the announcement.

'Gary was impressive in interview and his enthusiasm for the job shone through with a desire to succeed so obvious.

"He has extensive experience in developing young players and we believe that is a vital ingredient for our future.

'I would like to thank Martin Kuhl for fulfilling the role as Caretaker Manager since the departure of Terry Brown and I am pleased that Martin will be first team coach in our new set up.

'I thank the supporters for their patience and am sure that they will welcome Gary to Aldershot Town as we look ahead positively to the future'.

Continuing Mr McGinty also confirmed the announcement of the new club sponsors of Aldershot Town Football Club.

He said, 'We are delighted to announce our new official club sponsors as EZYLET LTD , a locally based Aldershot company.

'It is a two year agreement and we are so pleased to have EZYLET LTD on board. I am sure that our supporters are going to learn so much about this ambitious company in the future'. Aldershot

BBC - Waddock becomes Aldershot manager

Gary Waddock has been appointed as the new manager of Aldershot with caretaker boss Martin Kuhl reverting to his role as first team coach.
The 45-year-old ex-Republic of Ireland international has signed a two-year deal to replace Terry Brown, who stepped down at the end of March.

Waddock had a seven-month stint in charge of QPR in 2006 after a number of coaching roles at Loftus Road.

He also played over 500 games for QPR, Luton, Millwall and Bristol Rovers.

Aldershot chairman John McGinty said: "I apologise to supporters for the delay in naming the appointment but hope that they are enthused with the announcement.

"Gary was impressive in interview and his enthusiasm for the job shone through with a desire to succeed so obvious. BBC

"He has extensive experience in developing young players and we believe that is a vital ingredient for our future."

Aldeshot have also revealed that local firm Ezylet will become the club's new sponsors in a two-year deal.

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Updated: QPR's Former Manager, Gary Waddock has been appointed manager of Aldershot. Best of luck to him. Aldershot Appoint Waddock

QPR's former manager, Gary Waddock is reportedly set to be announced as manager of Aldershot (where 25 years ago, Ian Gillard went to become first team coach. Former QPR goalkeeper, Bull is at Aldershot. Report

Meanwhile former QPR Assistant Manager, Alan McDonald may be in the running for the Glentoran Managership who yesterday axed their manager. McDonald who joined Glentoran some months back, as coach. Glentoran Axe Paul Millar See McDonald Among Contenders

In the United States, victory for another former QPR, Steve Morrow, now Coach (manager) at FC Dallas who beat Chicago Fire 2-1 - Report.

Bruce Rioch's FORMER club OB Odense won the Danish Cup for the fifth time on Thursday, defeating Danish champions FC Copenhagen 2-1. BBC (In March, Rioch suddenly left Odense "OB Recover from Rioch Shock

EX-QPRs Possibly Playing tonight: In the playoffs 2nd leg
Nottm Forest v Yeovil. Yeovil with Forbes and Rose are 0-2 down.
Milton Keynes Dons v Shrewsbury. MK Dons, managed by Martin Allen and with Bankole keeping out Harper. Dyer and Knight also had spells with QPR.

Former QPR George Santos has been released by Brighton. - Released

Aldershot Appoint Waddock

Aldershot Official Site - Official Club Statement
We are pleased to announce the appointment of the new manager of Aldershot Town Football Club and new official club sponsors too.

Aldershot Town Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Gary Waddock as their new manager.

The 45 year old joins on a two year agreement and will have overall responsibility on first team, reserve and youth team football matters at the club in addition to providing a guidance and overview to the junior section too.

He will be responsible for all football related budgets.

Gary arrives after an extensive football career where he made over 500 senior appearances. The former midfielder includes periods at QPR, Luton Town, Millwall, Bristol Rovers and at Charleroi (Belguim). In addition he made 21 international appearances for the Republic of Ireland.

When former QPR manager Ian Holloway took charge of the west London side he appointed Gary to head the Academy section of the club and, eventually, Gary took responsibility of the reserve and youth team structure too. He also served as first team manager at the Championship club.

It is also confirmed that Martin Kuhl will remain at the club reverting back to his role as First Team Coach after serving a period as Caretaker Manager.

Chairman John McGinty commented, 'We are delighted that Gary has agreed to join the club as our manager.

"I apologise to supporters for the delay in naming the appointment but hope that they are enthused with the announcement.

'Gary was impressive in interview and his enthusiasm for the job shone through with a desire to succeed so obvious.

"He has extensive experience in developing young players and we believe that is a vital ingredient for our future.

'I would like to thank Martin Kuhl for fulfilling the role as Caretaker Manager since the departure of Terry Brown and I am pleased that Martin will be first team coach in our new set up.

'I thank the supporters for their patience and am sure that they will welcome Gary to Aldershot Town as we look ahead positively to the future'.

Continuing Mr McGinty also confirmed the announcement of the new club sponsors of Aldershot Town Football Club.

He said, 'We are delighted to announce our new official club sponsors as EZYLET LTD , a locally based Aldershot company.

'It is a two year agreement and we are so pleased to have EZYLET LTD on board. I am sure that our supporters are going to learn so much about this ambitious company in the future' Aldershot

BBC - McDonald among Glens contenders
Former Northern Ireland captain Alan McDonald is among the contenders to replace Paul Millar as Glentoran boss.
McDonald has been an assistant with the Northern Ireland U21 team and at Queens Park Rangers and was brought to the Oval as a coach during last season.
Other contenders in the mix include Coleraine manager Marty Quinn who was previously linked with the position.
Roy Walker turned down the offer to manage the Glens last time and Michael O'Neill and Tommy Leeman may be keen.
Quinn is believed to have agreed a new three-year deal with the Bannsiders after attracting interest from Newry City but it is not clear whether pen has been put to paper yet.
Walker was offered the opportunity to be Glens boss when Roy Coyle was sacked 15 months ago but did not take up the post because of other commitments.
O'Neill has gained managerial experience at Brechin City and Leeman has recently stepped down as manager of Harland and Wolff Welders, citing a lack of ambition by the East Belfast club. BBC

Aldershot News and Mail - Waddock set to be named new Shots boss
AFTER eight weeks of searching, Aldershot are finally set to unveil former QPR boss Gary Waddock as their new manager.
As the News went to press, the 45-year-old had yet to be confirmed as Terry Brown’s successor but it is believed that an appointment will be made within days after he held off the challenge of caretaker manager Martin Kuhl.
The Aldershot board interviewed eight candidates for the vacant manager’s position on May 3, before cutting that shortlist down to just three names — thought to be
It is believed that it came down to a straight fight between Waddock and Kuhl, with the former QPR man attracting enough support from the board for an appointment to be made imminently.

Waddock told the News earlier this week that he is looking to get back into football as soon as possible, but refused to confirm or deny that he had been in talks with Aldershot.

However, despite being reluctant to admit his interest in the post, Waddock is expected to take the reins at the Rec and is likely to keep Kuhl on the payroll.

The former Republic of Ireland international enjoyed an impressive playing career, making 203 appearances for QPR over eight years before leaving for a two-year spell at Belgian club Charleroi in 1987.

He returned to English football in 1989 with Millwall, before going back for a second period at QPR, followed by spells at Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers and Luton Town before retiring.

Waddock soon moved onto the coaching staff at Loftus Road after being given a job with the QPR youth academy and, following Ian Holloway’s suspension in February 2006, he was appointed caretaker manager, helping Rangers to avoid relegation.

For the full story, see the Aldershot News. Aldershot News and Mail

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First contract for Youth Player, Kieron St Aimie and words of praise from QPR Manager, John Gregory...Remembering QPR Youth Player, Kiyan Prince, who was killed a year ago today...Press reports of QPR interest in Luton's Finish Defender, Markus Heikkinen - Clubcall and Derby's Ryan Smith.
Still waiting for news about pre-season friendlies: Reports of a game against Celtic and against the Arsenal and a brief tour of Ireland; but nothing announced. No date announced yet for the AGM but presumably in June....No further updates re the ABC Loan or Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz...or a date for QPR (and at the time QPR coach, Richard Hill)meeting with the FA re the "China Brawl".
Football League attendances were up this year (but unfortunately, not for QPR!) Championship Attendances by Club League Crowds Reach 47-Year High
"The Football League has recorded its highest set of attendance figures in the modern era. In total, more than 16.4m supporters attended matches during the 2006/07 season - a rise of 1.6% and 250,000 admissions on last season.
Crowds are now at their highest levels since the 1959/60 season (18.1m) and have more than doubled in the last two decades, confirming The Football League's position as the best-attended sporting competition in Europe.
Additionally, total gates in the Coca-Cola Championship have broken the 10m barrier for the first time since 1950/51. Crowds in The League's top division averaged 18,221 fans per match, a rise of 3.5% on 2005/06. The Coca-Cola Championship is the 4th most watched League in Europe with its total audience only bettered by the Premiership, Germany's Bundesliga and Spain's La Liga. League Crowds Reach 47-Year High

QPR Youth Player, Kieron St Aimie Signs Professional Contract
Youth starlet Kieron St Aimie has put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the R's.
The Brent-born teenager, who celebrated his 18th birthday on May 4th, today (Thursday) dotted the i's and crossed the t's on a one year deal at Loftus Road.
St Aimie, who featured for Joe Gallen's all-conquering Under-18 side towards the latter end of the season, has had to overcome a series of serious injuries since signing as a Scholar in June 2005.
Cartilage defects in both knees sidelined him for 18 months, yet having overcome one injury nightmare after another, his performances at Reserve team level in the last few months caught the eye of Manager John Gregory, who including him in his first team squad for the R's final away game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
"He's a bright young talent,'' Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk.
"We don't want to heap too much pressure on him because of his age, but it was vitally important we got him on professional forms sooner rather than later.
"He's a nice kid, he's very level headed, and he has earned this contract with the attitude and ability he has shown in the last few months.''
St Aimie scored three goals in nine appearances for the Under-18's last season, as well as featuring in seven Reserve matches.... QPR

QPR Official Site - Gregory on Kieron St Aimie - TEENAGE KICKS
John Gregory believes teenager Kieron St Aimie has all the attributes to make it to the very top of his profession.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk on the day the 18 year-old put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the Club, the R's gaffer talked in glowing terms about the youngsters future.
"First and foremost, he's a very good footballer,'' said Gregory.
"He's got great versatility, a very good footballing brain and a first class attitude. He's an intelligent kid; very level headed and has an excellent physique.
"He's got great versatility, a very good footballing brain and a first class attitude.''
"He has earned this contract with the attitude and ability he has shown in the last few months.''
Although a right midfielder by trade, Gregory is in two minds about whether the wide role gets the best out of St Aimie.
"It's difficult to establish what his best position is,'' Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk.
"He can play across the midfield and he doesn't look out of place playing behind a lone front-man either.
"He's got very good feet and can score goals too, but we'll just have to wait and see how he improves over the next 18 months or so before we make a decision. With the right kind of coaching and tuition, he's got a very bright future.''
Despite including him in the squad for the trip to Molineux in the R's final away fixture of the season, the Rangers gaffer doesn't expect St Aimie to be knocking on the first team door on a regular basis just yet.
"We're not expecting too much from him at this stage,'' said Gregory.
"I can't see him banging on the door just yet, but this is a fantastic opportunity for him.''
"We'll leave him alone and nurture him through gradually. This season will be key in both his development and education.
"I can't see him banging on the door just yet, but this is a fantastic opportunity for him to establish himself as a first team squad member.'' QPR

QPR Official Site -KIYAN REMEMBERED
Today (Friday) marks the first anniversary of the sad and untimely death of R's youth team player Kiyan Prince. Prince, 15, was stabbed to death following an altercation with another boy outside the gates of the London Academy in Edgware on May 18th 2006.
Everyone at Queens Park Rangers Football Club extends their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Kiyan at this sad time. May he rest in peace QPR

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Five years ago this month, QPR exited their year-long period in Administration with a 10 million pound, 10% per year loan from the "mysterious" ABC. Much has been written and various statements made by people running QPR, about this loan and the circumstances surrounding it and who is behind ABC.

BBC Monday, 27 May, 2002 - Survival boost for QPR
By David McIntyre
BBC Sport - Second Division QPR have been taken out of administration.
The administration order was lifted following a hearing at the High Court on Monday.
Former chairman Chris Wright took a substantial write-off on his loans and handed back a large part of his shareholding in the club a few weeks ago.
We have faced some tough decisions and learned some hard lessons
David Davies QPR chief executive
His decision helped enable the repayment of debts to all the Loftus Road club's creditors.
Loftus Road chief executive David Davies said in a statement: "This is wonderful news and the conclusion of one of the darkest periods in our history.
"We have faced some tough decisions and learned some hard lessons.
"These are lessons which many clubs are now having to learn.
"We will come out of this experience in a much stronger position.
Wright retains stake
"Gone are the days when players will be paid excessive wages.
"When we first went into administration, QPR was highlighted as being run on the economics of a madhouse.
"What we have done is bring some sanity to the club."
Wright, the main creditor as well as owner, agreed to accept half of the £6.7m he was owed.
But he has retained a 25% stake in the company as well as ownership of the club's training ground.
Rangers failed to get out of the First Division despite a massive investment resulting from a floatation in the summer of 1996.
They were hard hit the money from 'parachute' payments given to relegated clubs ran out.
With a wage bill already far too big for the First Division the club dropped into Division Two last year and in April 2001 administrators BDO Stoy Hayward were called in.
Transfer embargo lifted
But as many clubs struggle following the collapse of ITV Digital, QPR find themselves in a strong position.
They have not budgeted for television money and have slashed their wage bill.
It has been an awful period for QPR but I'm calling us 'the orange club', because the future is bright
Ian Holloway
QPR manager
Current manager Ian Holloway also has highly-rated players in his squad such as Richard Langley, Clarke Carlisle, Terrell Forbes and Dan Shittu.
Holloway said: "QPR were the first into the tunnel and are coming out of it just as everyone else is going in.
"There must be a lot of worried clubs but we have learned hard lessons and now we are on solid ground at last.
"It has been an awful period for QPR but I'm calling us 'the orange club', because the future is bright."
Holloway will now be looking to add to his squad having been restricted by a transfer embargo, which will be lifted with immediate effect after the club was taken out of administration. BBC

Bucks Free Press - May 31, 2002 On QPR Out of Administration.
QPR on road to cash recovery QPR or to be strictly accurate, parent company Loftus Road plc are out of administration following a High Court ruling on Monday.
The plc and QPR went into administration in April 2001, but following a refinancing package finalised by the directors last week, the company has been able to pay off its creditors.
Chief executive David Davies said: "This is wonderful news and the conclusion of one of the darkest periods of our history. Having the administration order lifted marks the end of more than a year of tough financial decisions and hard work.
"This would not have been possible were it not for the commitment of coaches, players and backroom staff and the hard work of our administrators."
Mr Davies said, however, that one of the major factors in pulling the club back from the brink had been the supporters: "None it would have been possible without the support of the QPR fans. After seeing the club placed in administration, relegated and then lose more than half of our squad, they stuck by us in record numbers and continue to do so."
He went on to say that he felt the hard lessons learned would benefit the club in the future - "gone are the days when players will be paid excessive wages" - at a time when many clubs are on the verge of calling in the administrators. In the past, QPR had been highlighted as being run "on the economics of the madhouse."
But Mr Davies warned that although coming out of administration was a major step forward, much remained to be done on and off the field, although he was optimistic that the hard work of manager Ian Holloway and others would bear fruit.
"We don't suddenly have a magic wand to wave and make everything better. We are not suddenly flush with cash. With hard work and passion, we will improve this club but by bit and season by season.
"Ian Holloway has restored pride to the team and brought together a hungry and talented bunch of players. With the handcuffs of administration finally removed, we can start to build a solid future for QPR." Bucks Free Press

See Past QPR Reports compilations re ABC Loan:

October 27, 2006 - QPR's ABC Loan: What's Known

QPR Statement re Blitz Loan, ABC Refinancing

July 05, 2006 - QPR's Ongoing 10% per-annum ABC Loan & QPR's Efforts to Deal with it

April 14, 2006 - ABC, QPR & Derby County - Looking Back

April 18, 2007 - Approaching the Five Year Mark Since QPR's ABC Loan

Almost Five Years Since QPR's ABC Loan, Exit Administration and Takeover Efforts Ended

See Also:
QPR1st - May 2002
Clubs in Crisis - QPR
Old LSA News
Boardroom Blues

BBC - May 30, 2002 - Blackburn takes charge at QPR
Nick Blackburn has been installed as the new chairman of QPR, following the club's exit from administration last week.
Blackburn was vice-chairman to Chris Wright, and then acting chairman following Wright's resignation last year.
Rangers chief executive David Davies had been strongly tipped to take on the role of chairman, having helped steer the club through its crisis period.
However, Davies will be staying in his current job, while director Ross Jones has taken over as chairman of parent company Loftus Road plc. BBC

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QPR Official Site - TALKS TO BEGIN...

John Gregory is hopeful he can thrash out deals with Marcus Bignot and Marc Nygaard in the next few weeks.
Both players are due to be offered terms in the next 48 hours and Gregory is confident the duo will prolong their stay in W12 after their existing contracts expire at the end of June.
"Marcus and Marc haven't been offered terms yet, but we expect to sit down with them in the next 48 hours or so,'' Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk.
"They know we're talking about one year deals and I'm quietly confident both of them will put pen to paper.''
"They know we're talking about one year deals and I'm quietly confident both of them will put pen to paper.
"However, if they get a better offer to go elsewhere, we simply shake hands and that will be that, but I don't foresee that being the case.'' QPR

TEAMTALK - Gregory: Youth system is key
QPR manager John Gregory has pledged to revitalise the club's youth system.
Bet on football with Skybet.com
Youngster Dean Parrett left the club to join Tottenham last season, while forwards Ray Jones and Shabazz Baidoo progressed from the youth team to the first-team squad, but Gregory wants to improve things.
"During my time as a player here (from 1981 until 1985), the youth set-up was vibrant," Gregory said. "We produced a lot of very good players.
"I would like to be in that position again, and it is something I will spend a lot of time on during the summer.
"QPR has always had a good youth set-up. We have always produced our own players, sold them at various times, and made large profits on them.
"This is a fantastic catchment area to attract kids at youth level. Parents are happy with their kids coming here. I will spend time and make sure we have equipment to bring in quality young players." TEAMTALK

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Six months ago - and after being at QPR only three months, QPR's Chief Operating Officer, Graham Mackrell departed QPR. There was a very brief mention as part of a broader QPR statement, following some messageboard rumours about his departure and a couple of (similarly-worded) press stories.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

QPR OFFICIAL SITE
"...Meanwhile re Mackrell's departure, the Official Site simply said:
Official Site: "...Following the departure of Chief Operating Officer, Graham Mackrell, QPR will still have sound financial and business advice from two of the financial world's experts. QPR would like to thank Graham Mackrell for all of his hard work over the last few months... QPR OFFICIAL

THE SUN "QPR have sacked executive Graham Mackrell in the row over compensation for coach Tim Breacker. Former West Ham ace Breacker, 41, is still on gardening leave nine months after being relieved of his duties at the same time as ex-boss Ian Holloway ..... Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini has accused Mackrell of bungling pay-off negotiations. Breacker hopes to agree a settlement so he can link up again with Holloway at Plymouth. But Paladini said: “I was unhappy with Graham’s involvement. “I believe the pay agreement is back in place but I didn’t feel I can work with Mr Mackrell.”


MAIL - Mackrell sacked by QPR over compensation row
QPR have sacked chief operating officer Graham Mackrell following a row over compensation for former assistant boss Tim Breacker. Breacker is still on gardening leave nine months after leaving the club at the same time as ex-manager Ian Holloway and chairman Gianni Paladini has accused Mackrell of blundering over pay-off negotiations. Breacker hopes to agree a settlement within 48 hours so he can join Holloway at Plymouth. "

Less than 3 Months Previously - QPR Official Site - MACKRELL APPOINTED
QPR are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Mackrell, as Chief Operating Officer.
A qualified accountant, Mackrell will offer assistance to the board, with the focus on improving the Club's off-the-field activities.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead,'' Mackrell told qpr.co.uk.
"QPR is a club with fantastic tradition and I'm excited about the prospect of working with the strong team we already have in place here.
"I'm here to add professionalism and my aim is to ensure the Club's off-the-field ambitions match those on it.''

Graham Mackrell
Mackrell has worked in professional football for 25 years, including spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town, AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United.
He is also a Venue Director for UEFA.
Chairman Gianni Paladini is delighted to have Mackrell on board, commenting: "Graham will raise our profile within football thanks to his extensive work with UEFA and the League Managers Association.
"He is extremely well-known and respected within the game and also benefits from being a qualified accountant.
"I would like to wish Graham all the best and welcome him to QPR.''
QPR

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The pre-season came to a close as QPR's opened their season at Burnley (which they lost 0-2). In pre-season forecasts, QPR were rated as one of the likely relegation strugglers. At QPR, things continued. Danny Shittu was finally sold - to Watford after initially it looked like he'd be joining WBA. Ian Evatt went to Blackpool on loan And just after the season began, QPR signed Blackstock from Southampton and Rehman from Fulham. And in the "real world," former Chairman Bill Power and former CEO, Mark Devlin, and his son and the pilot were involved in a small plane crash. Injured but survived. And back at Loftus Road, Chairman Paladini was speaking on various issues.

QPR Chairman Paladini: "Living in Fear...Bullet Proof vest...Enemy Within"
Sunday Mirror 6 August 2006 LIVING IN FEAR
Contract killer threat forces QPR chairman to wear a bullet-proof vest GIANNI EXCLUSIVE - Anthony Clavane
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini is living in fear after a contract was legedly put out on his life.
Following advice by the police, the controversial Rangers chief now has to wear a bullet-proof vest.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror Sport, Paladini hit out at fans opposed to his regime at Loftus Road, calling them the "enemy within".
Paladini said: "I find it incredible what's going on here. You have to fight against so many things. This must be the only club where the fans love to put s**t on their own club on the website."
Two weeks ago, a group of men were cleared of forcing Paladini to resign at gunpoint during a match against Sheffield United.
The Italian tycoon claimed he was surrounded by hired thugs, punched and slapped, and then warned he'd be killed if he refused to sign a letter of resignation.
But a judge threw out the case against the men. There is no suggestion that any of those men are involved in the alleged contract on Paladini.
Former agent Paladini invested £600,000 in the West London outfit in March 2004 and was initially employed as a consultant to bring in players.
Last year he ousted Bill Power as QPR chairman, removed chief executive Mark Devlin and claimed victory in a bitter struggle for control of the club.
But one of his strongest allies, former Brazil skipper Carlos Dunga, resigned from the board last week after his shock appointment as his country's new national coach.
Ever since Paladini became a director of the debt-ridden Championship club he has faced hostile criticism from a section of supporters.
The Italian tycoon was furious to discover an attempt to sabotage an interview with him on the QPR website after he returned from the R's pre-season tour of his home country.
He said: "I went mad. It's been cancelled now. They're trying to wind me up. I give up, I really do. I nearly got a heart attack when I saw it.
"They put the face of a fan up there, somebody is stirring things up.
"Sometimes I wonder why I got myself involved in this situation. Whatever you do, you can't win. Even if you win the league and get promoted, you'll still have people who criticise.
"I feel like a dartboard. People are always throwing darts at me.
"We have an enemy within. What kind of people do these things? How can you be a QPR fan when you put this s**t in?"
Paladini also suspected foul play when one newspaper reported last week that Rangers players were turned away from their training ground because the rent had not been paid.
He blasted: "This did not happen. I have a statement showing we paid Imperial College, who we rent the ground from, £32,250 on 18 July. How can they shut it for non-payment two weeks after paying the rent? It's insane.
"There were people from a QPR fan group outside the training ground at 7.20am, putting it out that the players had been locked out.
"But people were asleep at that time. The players didn't go in until 10am.
"They put out so much s**t, so much rubbish, that I just give up.
"Since I've come here there's been problem after problem after problem but now, thank God, it's all left behind. Now we will only concentrate on the football and take this club forward.
"With the players we've brought in and the new manager, Gary Waddock, we're looking forward to an exciting season.
"We've reduced the average age of the team and we've brought in players to give us stability for the next two or three years.
"It's been a very difficult time. But it's business as usual. I just carry on doing my job.
"In this game you need a lot of money. When I came here we were losing more than £500,000 a year but, by the end of next season, we should be out of debt.
"I'm lucky that the people with me they are prepared to put in money. This month, to pay the wages, they had to put in more money."
"When I came here we got promoted and we've been two years in the Championship. Look at clubs like Birmingham, who spend eight or nine million, or Wolves, Coventry, Leeds.
"They spend a fortune every year. They are on a very different level to us.
"Fortunately I've been involved in foot ball for the last 30 years and it's helped me a lot, because I1 can get certain players in."
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=17519942%26method=full%26siteid=62484-name_page.html

Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Chairman Paladini Denounces Few who "seem intent on Damaging Team Morale and destroying the club"-
OFFICIAL SITE - STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN, GIANNI PALADINI

Having just returned from the R's pre-season tour of Italy, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini can't wait for the big kick-off.
"The trip to Sorrento was a great success, providing the players and coaching staff with an opportunity for some intense training and team bonding.
"Despite the players staying in one of the town's grandest hotels, and having been fitted with brand new QPR tailor-made suits for every player, the trip paid for itself and the Club even managed to make a tiny profit from it.
"Gary, Macca and the coaching staff are now ready for the new season. I believe we have a much improved squad, with summer signings including Armel Tchakounte, Jamaican international defender Damion Stewart, Egutu Oliseh, Adam Czerkas and the much talked about Nicky Ward, and the important re-signing of Lee Cook for two more years.
"Many of last season's first team have improved over pre-season and it has been particularly pleasing to see Martin Rowlands back to full fitness. A number of the youth squad have made tremendous steps forward during pre-season and will be fighting for places in Gary's first team.
"It is frustrating that, despite all the hard work everyone has been doing during pre-season, a tiny minority of people seem intent on damaging team morale and destroying the Club in the run up to our important first game.
"Not only have they once again invented wholly false rumours about the state of the Club, but unfortunately a couple of journalists with a record of writing stories against QPR, and with links to some of the individuals intent on destabilising the Club, have blown up these rumours and made up stories from nothing.
"Last week it was suggested in some of the press that we were putting QPR up for sale. Unfortunately the journalists responsible for this story failed to even check the official statement from Antonio Caliendo, Chairman of Holdings, on the Club's official website, making clear the Board's continued commitment to QPR.
"I have always said if someone with QPR's best interests at heart wants to come along and buy out the existing Board we would not stand in their way. Nothing has changed and nobody has come forward. We will continue to seek out new investors to take the Club even further forward, but as Antonio made clear last week, we are committed to QPR.
"The Club is in a better financial position than it has been in for a number of years. Things are still tough, but we have reduced the annual debt by millions and intend to reduce it further. Yet ridiculous rumours still seem to be invented by a few people for reasons beyond me.
"The latest is the absurd rumour suggested on a message board that the players were locked out of the Harlington training ground, when in fact Gary Waddock had just given them the day off as they had only recently arrived back from a busy schedule in Italy.
"The same newspaper that had to apologise for a series of inaccurate stories about me last season, the Evening Standard, then chose to repeat this wholly false rumour as fact without even checking with me, the coaching staff, or even Imperial College - the owners of the training ground.
"In an article by a journalist named Wayne Vesey, under the headline 'Locked-out Rangers are unable to train' the Standard claimed that the Club was locked out of the training ground on Monday. Such a clearly false statement damages the reputation of the Club, and the morale of the players and supporters. I have been advised it is libellous and our lawyers will be contacting the Standard immediately to demand a retraction.
"QPR fans will ask themselves why should people invent such rumours? The purpose can only be to destabilise the Club and to injure the morale of players and fans just days before the season kicks off. The Club will not allow another season to be derailed by these people.
"The Board, Gary Waddock and the coaching staff, and the players and other members of staff, are all united in our focus to move this great club forward and to achieve success this season on the pitch. We believe we have the squad and the resources to do so. We will not allow a tiny group of people, driven by an agenda that has nothing to do with football, to destroy this Club.
"I urge all fans to treat such rumour-mongers with the contempt and scepticism they deserve. They have been claiming we would go into administration every week for the past year, and they never admit they are wrong when we don't.
"They claimed we were locked out of the training ground before and even that the groundsmen would not cut the grass at the stadium. They predicted we would spend all the Club's money on agents' fees when we have spent less than nearly any other club in this division. They predicted we would sell off Loftus Road and all our best players because we could not afford their wages.
"Just yesterday they claimed we were locked out of the training ground because we could not afford the rent; but today, as scheduled, our players are training at the training ground. On each and every occasion their rumours have been proven false.
"As I believe you say in England, when someone cries wolf so many times, people stop listening. But every time the rumour-mongers are proven wrong they invent another rumour, so desperate to be proven right and for the Club to fail.
"For the last time I say to those who's criticism of the Board has developed into an agenda to undermine the Club, if you know of a better alternative to take QPR forward with the necessary funding to support it, then please let us know. Otherwise stop pursuing a divisive and destructive agenda. The Board, the players and staff and the thousands of fans of QPR will not allow a small selfish group to ruin the season for the rest of us.
"I know most QPR fans will be sensible enough to take every rumour and press speculation with a hefty pinch of salt. We seem to be in the 'silly season' right now - only today I saw an article in the Mirror claiming I had rejected an offer of £3million for Danny Shittu from Wolves and would only sell him for £10 million.
"The story is, of course, rubbish. As I have said all along, we don't want to sell Danny, but if someone comes in with an offer of £3million or above it will be up to him to decide. Nobody has made such an offer and so Danny will be starting the season with us.
"So as we prepare for the opening game at Burnley on Saturday, and then two exciting home games against Leeds United and newly promoted Southend United, I cannot wait for the football to start and for the players to do the talking on the pitch."And I urge every single QPR fan to get fully behind Gary and the boys and help them to turn this into a glorious season. Come on You R's!'' Gianni Paladini
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~875457,00.html

OFFICIAL SITE STATEMENT RE GROUND CLOSING
CLUB STATEMENT Queens Park Rangers Football Club would like to issue the following statement to clear the air over yet more wildly inaccurate reporting in the press and on various message boards.QPR staff were admitted to the training ground on Monday. No players were refused admittance to the ground yesterday. This is because no players turned up as it had been decided to give them an extra day off after their pre-season tour to Italy. The players are back at the training ground today (Tuesday) working hard for the opening match of the season at Turf Moor on Saturday. We can confirm that there was no Portsmouth player on trial with the Club either yesterday or today. It should also be noted that the items printed in the press had not been checked with either QPR or Imperial College before being published.And remember... www.qpr.co.uk is the R's official website - where all the breaking news comes first and fastest.http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~875417,00.html

QPR Chairman, Paladini Denies "Locked Out of Training Ground" Rumours
- July 31, there were assertions on QPR Fan Messageboards that players had been locked out of the club's (rented) Harlington training ground. There was a brief 'snippet' re this rumour in the July 31 Evening Standard. There was no official statement/comment re this by the club.

Mirror August 1, 2006 - RANGERS RENT ROW MYSTERY

Paladini last night denied his players had been locked out of the training ground because the troubled Championship club had not paid the rent.
Several QPR players claimed they were turned away from their Harlington training HQ when the gates were locked in the latest apparent financial setback.
Rangers may be entrenched in debt, but Paladini stressed the rent was paid to Imperial College on July 18.
And he also insisted star defender Danny Shittu would not be sold before Saturday's kick-off - despite Wolves' £3million offer.
Paladini said: "We can prove the rent was paid and our manager Gary Waddock was there yesterday and allowed in.
"The players were simply given a day off and that is why they were not at the training ground yesterday.
"It's been a very difficult time for the club - the worst I can ever remember.
"As for Danny Shittu, we have had two offers but we are determined not to sell him. If we could not pay our rent then we would have sold him to Wolves a long time ago.
"There are about three or four clubs interested in signing him and we've had contact from Birmingham, West Brom and Norwich.
"If I can get a bid for £10m then we will listen, but if we don't get that sort of money then he'll start the season with us."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/topstories/tm_objectid=17496065%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html

Soccernet's Championship preview 2006/7 - Richard Jolly
"...QPR
Last season: 21st Manager: Gary Waddock - A QPR favourite who offers the prospect of better football at Loftus Road, despite a mediocre end to the season.
In: Damion Stewart (Bradford, free), Adam Czerkas (Kolporter Korona, loan), Egutu Oliseh (La Louviere, free), Armel Tchakounte (Kitchee FC, free), Nick Ward (Perth Glory, free).
Out: Dean Sturridge (Kidderminster, free), Richard Langley (Luton, free).
A largely unprofitable March and April did not stop QPR promoting Gary Waddock to succeed Ian Holloway, whose style of football may be deemed more suitable for the lower divisions.
Despite an eclectic bunch of rather cheap signings, he will operate with basically the same squad. The benefit is that it still includes Danny Shittu, the giant centre back whose uncompromising displays have attracted attention. The downside is that an ageing forward line requires rejuvenation and, as Marc Nygaard (9) was the most successful, a prolific scorer.
Waddock also needs to ease a reliance on Gareth Ainsworth to create while proving an end-of-season slump was not a sign of things to come.
Key man: Danny Shittu - QPR's leader in defence. He could be rather overworked this season.
One to watch: Shabazz Baidoo - Lively young striker who was normally used as a substitute last year.
Must do better: Stefan Moore - Came from Aston Villa in search of first-team football, but did not really make the most of it.
Prediction: If Waddock can ally a greater emphasis on passing with the spirit and resilience that were trademarks of Holloway's team, mid-table. If not, they may be among the strugglers.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=374686&root=england&cc=5739

Assessing QPR's 2006/07 Prospects - Guardian August 4, 2006
Team by team, how the football season shapes up
Your guide to the Championship hopefuls and hapless
Queens Park Rangers
Manager Gary Waddock
Captain Kevin Gallen
2005-06 League 21st, FA Cup 3rd rd, League Cup 1st rd.
Key man Nick Ward The 21-year-old has caught the eye in his first pre-season at QPR. The attacking central midfielder was called into an Australia squad in February.
Prediction Oscurity Mid-table would be decent for a club who finished one place above the drop last season. A regimented, punishing pre-season is expected to reap rewards. Commentator's kit Last month Dunga became the first director to leave Loftus Road to take over as Brazil coach.
In Egutu Oliseh (La Louvière) free, Nick Ward (Perth Glory) free, Adam Czerkas (Odra Wodzislaw) season loan, Armel Tchakounte (Kitchee) free, Damion Stewart (Harbour View) free.
Out Richard Langley (Luton) free, Dean Sturridge (Kidderminster) free, Ugo Ukah released, George Santos released.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1836823,00.html

Telegraph - Manager: Gary Waddock (July 2006).
In: Damion Stewart (Harbour View, U), Egutu Oliseh (La Louviere), Adam Czerkas (Odra Wodzislaw), Armel Tchakounte (Carshalton), Nick Ward (Perth Glory, U).
Out: Marcus Bean (Blackpool), Richard Langley (Luton), Dean Sturridge (Kidderminster), Ugo Ukah (Nouresa Calcio).
Released: Marcin Kus, George Santos, Sammy Youssef.

Squad numbers: 1 Simon Royce, 2 Marcus Bignot, 3 Mauro Milanese, 4 Ian Evatt, 5 Danny Shittu, 6 Tom Doherty, 7 Matthew Rose, 8 Marc Bircham, 9 Nick Ward, 10 Kevin Gallen, 11 Gareth Ainsworth, 12 Jake Cole, 14 Martin Rowlands, 15 Dominic Shimmin, 16 Steve Lomas, 17 Lee Cook, 18 Stefan Moore, 19 Armel Tchakounte, 20 Scott Donnelly, 21 Paul Jones, 22 Shabazz Baidoo, 23 Stefan Bailey, 24 Patrick Kanyuka, 25 Damion Stewart, 26 Sean Thomas, 27 Egutu Oliseh, 28 Adam Czerkas, 29 Paul Furlong, 30 Mark Nygaard, 34 Matthew Hislop, 35 Jonathan Munday.
Website: www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk
Odds: C: 100-1, P: 40-1, R: 2-1.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/08/04/sfngui04.xml&page=9

QPR Accept WBA's Bid for Danny Shittu (Now subject to Personal Terms/Medicall)
The sale is not exactly a complete surprise although Paladini has been quoted as saying a number of things. July 27 -skysports reported "...Queens Park Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini has hinted that West Bromwich Albion are close to meeting his side's asking price for Danny Shittu.... "If we have to wait for the money in instalments, then that's fine, but I always said the fee would be £3 million.
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?HLID=405935&CPID=10&title=Rangers+drop+Shittu+hint&lid=&channel=Football_Home&f=rss&clid=35#

QPR Official Site - Deal Agreed
QPR have reached agreement with fellow Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion for the £3million transfer of Dan Shittu.
The player is due to travel to The Hawthorns on Friday to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms.
The overall deal is worth £3million in total and the R's have negotiated a 10 per-cent sell on clause for any future transfer involving the player.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~876659,00.html

West Bromwich Albion Official Site QPR accept £1.5m Shittu bid
ALBION have had a £1.5million offer accepted by QPR for central defender Dan Shittu.
The fee could rise to £3million if certain criteria are met.
Nigerian international Shittu will travel to the Black Country tomorrow (Friday) to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
Stay tuned http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10366~876737,00.html?ptvParm=

BBC - QPR accept Baggies bid for Shittu Danny Shittu
Shittu has made more than 160 league appearances for QPR
QPR have accepted an initial offer of £1.5m from West Bromwich Albion for defender Danny Shittu.
The Baggies have struck a deal which could rise to £3m according to his performance and that of the club.
The 25-year-old is set to travel to the Hawthorns on Friday discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
WBA boss Bryan Robson wants to bring in defensive cover for Neil Clement and Thomas Gaardsoe who will both miss the start of the season through injury.
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini had previously insisted his club would not accept less than £3m for defender Danny Shittu.
Watford had a bid for the giant centre-back rejected.
Shittu moved to Loftus Road from Charlton in 2002 in a £350,000 deal funded by QPR fans Matthew and Alex Winton. He has since made 162 league appearances and is a firm favourite among supporters.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/5244068.stm


SKY - QPR accept Shittu bid By Alex Dunn - Created on 3 Aug 2006
West Bromwich Albion have agreed a fee for Queens Park Rangers defender Danny Shittu.
After a period of negotiation between the Championship rivals an accord has been struck whereby West Brom will pay an initial fee of £1.5 million.
The fee could eventually rise to £3 million depending on various criteria that will be appearance and success related.
success related.
Shittu, an imposing central defender, has established himself as one of the more powerful performers outside of the top flight and is seen as an ideal signing by Baggies boss Bryan Robson.
West Brom defensive duo Neil Clement and Thomas Gaardsoe are currently struggling with injury and Robson has previously stated a desire to add more competition to his ranks.
Shittu will travel to the Midlands on Friday for a medical and to discuss personal terms. http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=407699&CPID=10&clid=35&lid=2&title=QPR+accept+Shittu+bid#

BBC - Ferdinand's Concerns
Ferdinand troubled by QPR unease By Chris Charles
QPR legend Les Ferdinand is hoping the club can put their problems off the pitch behind them as they get ready for the new season.
The striker, who scored 90 goals in 170 appearances for Rangers, is concerned stories of boardroom upheaval and mounting debts will take their toll.

Ferdinand told BBC Sport: "I'm upset with all the off-the-field antics at QPR that have overshadowed the club.

"I wish they could resolve this stuff and concentrate on the football."

Ferdinand, dubbed 'Sir Les' by the QPR fans during his eight-year spell at Loftus Road, admitted things were not looking great but had every confidence manager Gary Waddock and his assistant Alan McDonald would turn things around.

"My old team-mates Gary and Alan know all about Queens Park Rangers and I hope they can do the business," he said.

"They've got blue and white flowing through their blood so hopefully they can bring them back to where they need to be."

The bookmakers are not convinced, making QPR one of the the favourites to be relegated from the Championship after they failed to win any of their final 11 games last season.

A summer of discontent has seen the club's reputation dragged through the gutter, with a court clearing seven men of forcing then-director Gianni Paladini to resign at gunpoint during the home clash with Sheffield United last season.

Since then, Carlos Dunga has quit as a director after being asked to coach Brazil and Paladini, currently chairman of the west London side, has hinted that Rangers' main investor, Antonio Caliendo, could be ready to pull the plug.

Ferdinand, 39, remains upbeat about the future of the club where he made his name, saying: "I wish they'd stop talking about all the issues off the pitch and get back to talking about the great football Rangers traditionally play.

"If Gary and Alan are allowed to do their jobs, I really hope they can get QPR back into the Premiership as soon as possible."

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/5232594.stm

Predicted Championship - Final League Table
Championship
1. West Brom2. Southampton3. Crystal Palace4. Birmingham City5. Coventry City6. Sunderland7. Derby County8. Leeds United9. Wolves10. Burnley11. Norwich City12. Preston 13. Leicester City14. Cardiff City15. Stoke City16. Hull17. Ipswich Town18. Sheffield Wednesday19. Plymouth Argyle20. Southend United21. Luton Town22. Barnsley23. QPR24. Colchester United http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=374680&root=england&cc=5739

Championship Preview - The Times "Could go down"
The Times - Championship Preview
"QUEENS PARK RANGERS - There will be plenty of new faces on the pitch at Loftus Road this season, but unfortunately for Rangers supporters, most of Gary Waddock’s signings, who come from all corners of the globe, are untried both in this country and at this level. Expect to see a new face in the home dugout if they do not gel quickly into a winning side. Last season: 21st. This season: could go down"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2292825,00.html


BBC - The Championship form guide
QPR
"...BBC Sport verdict: New boss Gary Waddock had a difficult introduction to the job last season. But although results were bad, some performances showed promise. Waddock has the club in his blood and has pledged to play attractive football too. He has strengthened his squad over the summer but needs a good start to avoid a lengthy battle against the drop.
Key man: Nick Ward. Big things are expected from this Aussie youngster.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/5175924.stm


QPR's Prospects & Plymouth. ..Coral: Plymouth 5/6 odds to finish ahead of QPR
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SPORTING LIFE FANZINE
Will Quinn's arrival inspire Sunderland? CLOSE RACE TO ESCAPE THE CHAMPIONSHIP
By Brendan McLoughlin, PA Sport
"...If last season's late form is anything to go by, QPR are already relegated. Defeat in six of their final seven games suggests new boss Gary Waddock has his work cut out, just like predecessor Ian Holloway - sent on gardening leave by Rangers in February - and now Plymouth manager. A new striker was first on Holloway's list as he snapped up Sylvain Ebanks-Blake from Manchester United and he will hope that will help the Pilgrims survive again.
http://www.sportinglife.com/fanzine/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/07/26/SOCCER_Pre-season_Championship_O.html


Coral - Championship Betting PLymouth
14th last season, Plymouth Argyle are under new management following Tony Pulis’s return to Stoke City.

New boss Ian Holloway has beefed up his attack with the signings of Barry Hayles from Millwall, and Manchester United youngster Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, veteran frontman Micky Evans leaving for Torquay.
The Pilgrims are 80/1 with Coral to win the Championship, 25/1 to be promoted and 5/2 to be relegated.
Striker Nick Chadwick is 125/1 to be the division’s top goalscorer while in Coral’s match bet market, Plymouth are 5/6 to finish ahead of Ian Holloway’s old club QPR.
http://www.squarefootball.net/article/betting.asp?bid=1580


BBC - Watford bag Shittu from Rangers
"...Watford have signed QPR defender Danny Shittu for an initial fee of £1.6m.
The 25-year-old had looked to be heading for West Bromwich Albion after Rangers accepted a £1.5m offer. But the Hornets scuppered West Brom's plans, signing the Nigerian international on a three-year contract in a deal that could rise to £3m.
"We're signing another player who fits the Watford way, hungry to learn and to prove his worth at the very top level," said Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd..."
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/5250308.stm


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SHITTU HORNETTED
Dan Shittu has today signed for Watford after the Hornets made an improved offer for the Rangers defender.
The verbal agreement QPR had previously reached with West Bromwich Albion on Thursday was sidelined after Watford presented an offer which couldn't be ignored.
QPR will now see an improved sum up front as soon as Shittu makes the short journey to Hertfordshire, plus further potential earnings subject to various criteria being fulfilled.
The terms and conditions of further revenue generators, which incorporate appearances and future Watford success, were also an improvement on the initial offer that the Baggies had put on the table.
The lure of Premiership football and the fact Shittu would now no longer have to relocate was also too tempting for the defender to turn down.
Shittu's contract will see him stay at Vicarage Road for the next three seasons and he will be eligible to play in Tuesday night's game against Inter Milan.
Shittu signed for QPR in January 2001 from Charlton Athletic for an initial fee of £250,000, after spending two months on loan at Loftus Road.
Since his move to Loftus Road, Shittu made 172 appearances and netted 16 goals for the Superhoops.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~877736,00.html


WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE - DANNY DEAL CONFIRMED
WATFORD have today (Sunday) completed the signing of central defender Danny Shittu from Queens Park Rangers for an initial fee of £1.6m.
Danny Shittu
The 25-year-old completed formalities late last night, penning a deal that will see him stay at Vicarage Road for the next three seasons.
Shittu sat out the Hoops' seasonal opener at Burnley yesterday having previously made nearly 200 appearances for the Loftus Road outfit.
And a delighted Hornets' boss Aidy Boothroyd hailed the signing of Shittu as a major stepping-stone in his Premiership preparations.
"In Danny we're signing another player who fits the Watford way - hungry to learn, and eager to prove his worth at the very, very top level against the best.
"He is somebody that we have been chasing for some time and I'm pleased that he will now have the chance to fight for a place along with the other excellent centre-halves we have at the club."
Shittu will now link up with his new team mates and will be available for Tuesday night's high-profile friendly with Inter Milan.
The Hornets could pay up to a further £1.4m for the Nigerian international depending on appearances and further Watford successes.
Shittu was subject to a £1.5m bid earlier this week by Championship side West Bromwich Albion, but Watford subsequently had there slightly improved offer accepted by QPR Chairman Gianni Paladin
http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10400~877379,00.html?ptvParm=


Sunday, August 06, 2006

WBA Comment on Shittu's Watford Choice-
Watford Official Site
Shittu opts for Hornets
WATFORD BOUND...Shittu has joined the Hornets
ALBION target Dan Shittu has turned down a move to The Hawthorns in favour of joining newly-promoted Premiership outfit Watford.
After having a £1.5million offer for the Nigerian international accepted by QPR late Thursday night, the Baggies held talks with the player on Friday.
However, Shittu has rejected Albion's offer of a long-term deal and, after subsequent discussions with Watford, who had a similar bid accepted by QPR, he has decided to join the Vicarage Road outfit.
Chairman Jeremy Peace said: "We were well aware of Watford's initial interest in the player but were told by his agent that their interest had ended.
"Therefore, we negotiated a fee for the player with QPR in good faith and reached agreement with them on Thursday night.
"We arranged for the player to travel to The Hawthorns on Friday morning.
"The player arrived at the club with his agent. He underwent a medical and was offered what we believe were very good terms over a long-term contract.
"We feel we did everything possible to secure the player.
"However, we found out during the course of our negotiations that Watford's interest had been rekindled and that the player wanted to have talks with them.
"Clearly, the lure of playing in the Premiership has influenced the player's decision."
http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10366~877750,00.html

Shittu's QPR Farewell
-
Danny Shittu's Farewell
- Spoke on the QPR's Official Site
Can Watch/Listen to Shittu Comments (if subscriber)
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/sub/TVNewsDetail/0,,10373~878274,00.html

Skysport - Shittu reveals Prem motivation
By Tom Adams - Created on 7 Aug 2006
Watford new-boy Danny Shittu says he had to leave QPR in order to pursue a career in The Premiership.
The stopper snubbed strong interest from West Brom to join The Hornets in a £3 million deal on Sunday, leaving a gaping hole in the Rangers backline in the process.
After almost five years at Loftus Road, Shittu was sad to leave the London outfit, but the short trip to Watford offered him an irresistible chance to test himself at a higher level during the coming season.
"To test myself in The Premiership is something I have wanted to do for a long time," said Shittu.
"I am sorry that I have to leave QPR - but it's something that had to happen.
"It's hard leaving a club that has been like a family to me for the last four years.
"I feel I'm ready for The Premiership. I will work hard.
"I believe I can deal with whatever is thrown at me, and I hope I can make a bigger name for myself than I did at QPR."
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=408396&CPID=8&clid=57&lid=2&title=Shittu+reveals+Prem+motivation#


Plus great Farewell Piece by Clive Whittingham on QPR Rivals "Shittu sale must become the norm for Rs to survive"

Ron Norris on QPR Net "Picture Specials - Danny Shittu
Thursday 3rd August 2006
"...take a look back through his Rangers career in his very own picture special..".
http://qprnet.com/media/pictures/shittu.shtml

Official Site Report on QPR XI's 2-0 Defeat at Lewes
QPR OFFICIAL SITE SPOT OF WOE
Tommy Doherty saw red as a QPR XI succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Lewes on Tuesday evening.
The combative midfielder was given his marching orders in the first half, for two bookable offences, on a night to forget for the R's.
In truth, his dismissal only served to compound Rangers' woes, who handed transfer listed trio Ian Evatt, Matt Hislop and Stefan Moore yet another chance to shine.
R's Reserve Team manager Justin Skinner was understandably disappointed with the result, commenting: "Of course it was a setback. It looked like being a decent enough game after the first 20 minutes, but the referee spoilt it with his decision to give a soft penalty.
"Sean Thomas clearly got two hands to the ball, but the referee pointed straight to the spot. The lads over-reacted a little and Tommy bore the brunt of it with a second booking.''
Aside from the result though, Skinner believes the run-out will stand the players in good stead for the start of the season.
"As with all matches at this time of year, it's all about preparation,'' he told qpr.co.uk.
"Some of the lads have got some much needed game time under their belts and that can only add to the competition for places.''
QPR XI: Thomas, Goode, Munday, Evatt, Hislop, Tchakounte, Doherty, Bailey, Baidoo, Donnelly, Moore.
Subs (all used): R Jones, trialist, Cousins, Howell, Rose.

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~875701,00.html

QPR's Official Team Photo released
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~876331,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - Evatt to Blackpool on Six month Loan
BY THE SEASIDE
Ian Evatt has joined Coca Cola League One side Blackpool on a six month loan deal.
The former Chesterfield and Derby defender today (Thursday) penned a six month loan deal with the Seasiders that will expire on January 3rd 2007.
Evatt joined the R's in June 2005 for £150,000, but after falling out of favour under former boss Ian Holloway, he was eventually placed on the transfer list by Gary Waddock at the end of last season.
The 24 year-old defender - who made just 22 appearances for the R's - could make his Seasiders debut against Brentford on Saturday.
Waddock believes the loan deal is good for both parties, commenting: "Evo will get first team football and some much needed match fitness so it's great for both him and the Club.
"I had a good look at him last season but I came to the decision to place him on the list and I stand by that.''
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~876395,00.html

Blackpool Official Site
Pool Raid Championship
THE SEASIDERS today completed the six month loan signing of Queens Park Rangers defender Ian Evatt.
Evatt arrived at Loftus Road on a three year deal from Chesterfield in the summer of 2005 having put pen to paper in Majorca, when QPR chairman Gianni Paladini flew out to meet the no nonsense defender.
After falling out of favour with former Rangers manager Ian Holloway, Evatt was instantly recalled to the squad under caretaker manager Gary Waddock, going on to make 27 appearances in season 2005/06.
Standing at 6' 3" the former Derby defender is expected to make his Pool debut on Saturday when the Seasiders take on Brentford at Griffin Park.
We will have more reaction to this story shortly?
http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10432~876417,00.html


Sky Duo fail in Blackstock bids
By Peter ORourke - 3 Aug 2006
Skysports.com understand Wolves and Queens Park Rangers have had bids rejected for Southampton's Dexter Blackstock.
Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday, along with Wolves and QPR, are thought to be chasing Blackstock.
The arrival of Bradley Wright-Phillips at Southampton has increased competition for places at St Mary's and suitors of Blackstock are hoping the South Coast club may be willing to let the forward leave.
Queens Park Rangers boss Gary Waddock has previously expressed his interest in Blackstock and he followed that up with a firm bid which was rejected by Southampton.
New Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is also looking to add to his striking options and tabled an offer for Blackstock.
Southampton are in no rush to let Blackstock go and are holding out for their full valuation of the player.
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=407537&CPID=10&clid=20&lid=2&title=Duo+fail+in+Blackstock+bids


Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power Says No QPR Return
BBC/Wiltshire - Power to stay with STFC
Swindon Town director and £1 million investor, Bill Power, says he's staying at the County Ground...
Swindon Town director Bill Power says he is staying with the club for the long term and there is no chance of him going back to Queen's Park Rangers.
He only joined the Robins earlier this year having previously been involved at QPR and has pledged to invest more than £1 million.
Last week the current Rangers chairman said he would be willing to let Power take back control of the West London club if he was interested.
But speaking during Saturday's 1-all draw with Reading, Power says his future is at the County Ground:
"I've thrown my hat in with Swindon and I've never gone back on things before.
"The next three or four years are going to be very exciting here and I just wish the season was starting today, you know, the way they're playing it's great."...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/07/31/stfc_310706_feature.shtml

Friday, August 04, 2006
Penrice Reported Set to Link Up wth Holloway
Plymouth Evening Herald - 4 August 2006
Gary Penrice should become the latest addition to Ian Holloway's backroom staff at Home Park by next week.
Penrice was a coach for Holloway at both Bristol Rovers and Queens Park Rangers and is a trusted ally of the new Pilgrims' boss.
When Holloway was put on 'gardening leave' by QPR in February after a fall-out with chairman Gianni Paladini, his two coaches - Penrice and Tim Breacker - suffered the same fate.
Holloway took over at Argyle on June 28 but Penrice and Breacker remain on the payroll at the west London club.
"I have offered something to Gary Penrice and he has had a problem to sort out with QPR," said Holloway. "I think they are doing that as we speak. The role I will be talking about will be different to what he did at QPR."
Holloway confirmed no offer had been made yet to Breacker.
When asked whether he would like to bring Breacker to Home Park, Holloway replied: "We will have to wait and see. Other things will have to happen at this end first."... http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=184334&command=disp

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Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - May 15, 2007
Job done... now can Gregory go further?


'NO margin for error' is a common mantra in football - but, at Loftus Road, it doesn't always seem to apply to everyone.
Two poor performances cost a manager his job and one was enough for a goalkeeper to be shown the exit door, while others were allowed to drift along in a wave of mediocrity for much of the season.
That might sound unduly negative after the relief of the late surge that saw QPR avoid relegation to League One and build some momentum for next August.
After all, John Gregory completed the mission entrusted to him when he strode into Loftus Road in September and now deserves the opportunity to try and achieve new goals.
But, let's not forget, saving Rangers from relegation was far from being a tall order and the light at the end of the tunnel was barely visible as late as March.
Gary Waddock was much maligned for the quality of his signings - with the exception of Dexter Blackstock - but his real mistake was to ditch so many senior players in one fell swoop.
Marcus Bignot, Marc Bircham and Steve Lomas all returned to the side after Waddock's departure - not only as players, but captains too - and reiterated their worth during the course of the season.
Even so, Rangers gleaned useful points from some tricky early fixtures and, aside from their losses to Ipswich and Colchester, were hardly adrift when Gregory took over.
The initial upturn was dramatic, not least because the Rs suddenly could not stop scoring goals, especially effervescent midfielder Jimmy Smith, on loan from Chelsea.
Ironically, Rangers' 1-0 victory at Cardiff prompted a severe slump for both teams and it was here that Gregory's selections became difficult to understand.
His refusal to contemplate picking the experienced Matthew Rose meant an extended run in the side for the floundering Zesh Rehman, while Damion Stewart was still adjusting to Championship football.
Later in the season, with Bignot injured and Mauro Milanese frozen out, it was Sami Timoska's turn to struggle, playing in an unfamiliar role at left-back.
It was no coincidence that Stewart became one of QPR's most consistent players in the second half of the season, particularly once he was paired with Danny Cullip.
Unlike Waddock, Gregory's signings were inspired, with Cullip and Adam Bolder - quickly becoming the midfield dynamo that everyone had once hoped Tommy Doherty might be - filling key roles.
His use of the loan system also made an enormous difference. Michael Mancienne maintained his high standards throughout where Smith did not and Lee Camp proved a stabilising influence in goal.
Equally, it was hard not to feel sorry for Simon Royce - dropped for his role in the 5-0 thrashing at Southend - or Paul Jones, who seemed to pay the penalty for a nightmare game on his 50th appearance for Wales.
The brief arrival of Inigo Idiakez made it a little harder for teams to mark Lee Cook, who had carried Rangers' creative portfolio single-handed for most of the season.
The key to Rangers' survival, though, was a run of goals for Blackstock, who deservedly picked up the club's Young Player of the Year award after vital winners against Preston and Cardiff.
But he looks more at ease as a second striker than leading the line and, with Marc Nygaard's injury record less than encouraging, Gregory will have to find another forward option this summer.
If he can persuade Camp to abandon Derby, sign another full-back and a creative midfielder, perhaps Gregory's new goals will not be too far away. Kilburn Times

Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - Miller backs Rs for Wembley trip

FORMER QPR player Adam Miller believes his old club can mount a play-off challenge next season - as long as they hang on to Lee Cook.

Miller was a member of the first team to win a cup final at the new Wembley Stadium on Saturday, helping Stevenage Borough capture the FA Trophy.

And Miller, a Rangers fan as a youngster, told the Times: "I'd love to see them reach the play-offs next year and if they get to Wembley I'll be back here to watch them.

"Some people might say that's too much to expect, but John Gregory's a proven manager. In my mind QPR are a massive club and I don't see any reason why he can't take them further.

"Cookie's a major part of the club, he's got so much going for him. He's a match-winner who can create and score goals and he's a lovely geezer as well.

"If the club can keep hold of him and maybe shore up the defence a bit, they won't go far wrong.

"I speak to Marcus Bignot occasionally and hopefully I'll sneak down to a few games next year, but to see QPR at Wembley would be unbelievable."

Rangers signed Miller from Aldershot Town in November 2004 and he went on to make 16 first-team appearances, but fell out of favour with Ian Holloway and left shortly before the manager himself.

Peterborough and Oxford were two of the Football League clubs to show an interest in Miller, but the 25-year-old midfielder raised some eyebrows by opting to return to the Conference with Stevenage.

He admitted: "It hurt to leave QPR - I loved every minute of it there and I appreciate Ian Holloway buying me. In a way, I'm still disappointed that I didn't stay in the League.

"Your confidence is low, you don't know what to do and it's tempting to take the first offer that's there, but I'm glad to have come to Stevenage and the gaffer [Mark Stimson] has been fantastic.

"He's going to go a long way - I don't think anyone would be surprised to see him further up the league in years to come. The team spirit is great, the boys are brilliant and I'd love to win promotion with the club."

A place in League Two would probably be the only way for Boro to top their FA Trophy success, after overturning a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat Kidderminster Harriers 3-2.

Miller added: "In front of 53,000 at the new national stadium, live on Sky, we showed great character.

"It's an incredible stadium and experience. My debut for QPR was unbelievable but actually winning a trophy is an amazing feeling. Kilburn Times

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BBC - QPR youngster claims Prince award

Queens Park Rangers defender Aaron Goode has won the Kiyan Prince Youth Team Player of the Year award.
The award was recently founded by the supporters' group Independent R's.
It is named in honour of Kiyan Prince, the QPR youth team player who died last year after being stabbed outside his school. He was 15.
Goode, 17, was presented with the trophy at Rangers' Harlington training ground in a ceremony attended by Kiyan's parents.
Goode won the award following a vote among fans who regularly watch the R's youth team.
BBC

See Also: Independent Rs Site on the New Prince Award "The Presentation Of The Kiyan Prince Youth Team Player Of The Year Trophy "- Independent Rs

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BBC - Nygaard hoping to agree contract

Queens Park Rangers striker Marc Nygaard is keen to resolve his future sooner rather than later.
The Dane, whose current Rangers contract expires this summer, is to be offered a new one-year deal. Talks are due to start in the coming days.
"We'll sit down and discuss it. I'm hoping we can come to an agreement that's good for both sides," he said.
"I speak from the heart when I say that I'm happy at QPR and really want to stay at the club."
Nygaard, 30, says he is settled in London despite a host of injury problems and mixed fortunes on the pitch since joining Rangers from Italian side Brescia in 2005.
"I'm happy here and London has been great for me and my family," he insisted.
"I've always admired English football and playing here during my career was something I really wanted to do.
"I love it at QPR. Hopefully I will now get the contract sorted out and focus on next season.
"We will start talking soon and I really hope it can all be sorted out." BBC

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For the Chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo, who runs World Champions Club, which in turn operates the Golden Foot Awards in Monacco: The 2007 Awards Nominees announced: 2007 List of Award Nominees

UPDATED:

Golden Foot Release - 15/05/2007 TEN NAMES FOR THE LEGEND

Earlier today the 2007 GOLDEN FOOT management revealed the names of the ten nominees chosen by the international media partners jury, they will compete for the prestigious award to the career achievement. T
Their names are David BECKHAM (England) ), Marcos CAFU (Brazil), Fabio CANNAVARO (Italy), Alessandro DEL PIERO (Italy), Luís FIGO (Portugal), Ryan GIGGS (Wales), Thierry HENRY (France), Paolo MALDINI (Italy), RAÚL Gonzáles Blanco (Spain), ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil). From today on football fans from all over the world can vote their favourite champion among the above mentioned ten nominees on the www.goldenfoot.com web site.
On 3rd September next in Monte-Carlo the winner will be elected "2007 GOLDEN FOOT" and will place his footprints beside the greatest players' ever. During the 2007 GOLDEN FOOT event presentation press conference that took place in the presence of Clarence Seedorf in Milan today, the charity initiative, to which the funds raised during the usual charity auction held on the prizegiving evening will be assigned, has also been presented. The charity initiative chosen this year is the "Champions For Children", a non-profit foundation created by the AC Milan Dutch international to help the children living in the developing countries. This year for the first time the Golden Foot prize will be produced by Ciaudano Jewellers. The GOLDEN FOOT event is organized by World Champions Club, a football management company based in Monte-Carlo. Golden Foot

09/05/2007 - 2007 GOLDEN FOOT PRESENTATION
The 2007 edition of the international career award GOLDEN FOOT will be presented on Tuesday, May 15th at 11.00 am at the Hotel Meliá in Milan. During the meeting with the press, the names of the ten candidates that will compete for the prestigious award, that reaches this year the fifth edition, will be revealed. The votes will be raised from May 15 to the 28 August on the official website of the event
www.goldenfoot.com. The winner, that will succeed Ronaldo, winner of the 2006 Golden Foot, will be invited in Monte-Carlo the next 3rd of September, to leave his footprints on the Champions Promenade, the "Walk of Fame" of the International Football. Clarence Seedorf will attend to the press conference, as founder and representative of "Champions for Children", a no profit organization that helps children in underdeveloped countries, that was chosen for being the Charity initiative of the Golden Foot 2007 of the auction after the gala dinner.

LOCATION Hotel Meliá Milano, via Masaccio 19 - Milan (Italy)
Time (Italy): 11:00 am

ACCREDITATIONS
Send an e-mail to pressoffice@goldenfoot.com
Golden Foot Announcement

The Golden Foot
The Golden Foot award is an international award to the career only for at least 29-year-old football players, who stand out for their sport results (both as single players and with their team), for their personality and for the esteem of the public and football experts. The winner is chosen out of a ten nominees list decided by a jury consisting of the Golden Foot media partners representatives and of the fans from all over the world who give their preferential vote through the official site. The peculiarity of this award is that the winner leaves a permanent mould of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade", a sort of "Walk of Fame" of the international football on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco. Therefore, a football player can win the Golden Foot award only once. The next edition of the Golden Foot award will take place on 3 September 2007. Golden Foot

Golden Foot Jury -
Jury

Golden Foot Organizing Committee
Committee

FAQs: About the Golden Foot/Golden Promenade
FAQs

World Champions Club (site currently not working)

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Look Back at the 2006/07 Season: July 2006

[See also: Season in Review May 2006 and Season Review June 2006]

Players reported back for training; the managerial side had finally been resolved; Director, Dunga resigned to become manager of Brazil. Pre-season friendlies: Cancelled ones against Brentford and MK Dons. The tour of Italy (and the promised suits!). Shittu's possible departure in the press. QPR sign Nick Ward, Adam Czerkas and Egutu Oliseh. QPR one of the favourites for relegation. No comment about the Trial/Verdict - QPR Official Site's QPR in the Press This Week


July 27, 2006 - QPR Holding Chairman, Antonio Caliendo Statement re QPR Post-Dunga
QPR STATEMENT
In the wake of widespread and further inaccurate reporting, Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd, Antonio Caliendo, would like to issue the following statement:
"Despite Carlos Dunga tendering his resignation as a non-executive director on Tuesday, he will continue to support the Club financially.
"The Board's objective remains the same as it always has been - to get QPR back on a sound financial footing and in time, a return to the Premiership.
"I want to reassure the shareholders and supporters that we are doing everything possible to achieve that goal.
"We have invested wisely in the squad this summer and I believe we are in a fantastic position to challenge in the top half of the Championship.
"Last season was a very difficult time for the Board. Since September, we've put in over £4million to ensure the Club's finances are in a stable position to build for the future.
"As a Board, we aim to keep our promise of not selling our best players. Obviously there are certain clauses in players' contracts which means we have to allow them to speak to other Clubs, but our aim is the Premiership and to achieve this we need to keep all our best players.
"The Dan Shittu situation is a perfect example. The bottom line is that we want to keep Danny at the Club. He's a fantastic professional and a tremendous player, but if we receive a £3million bid then he has the freedom to talk to whoever comes in for him.
"We love Queens Park Rangers and we are doing everything possible to safeguard the prestige of this wonderful Club.
"Together, there is only one voice - We Are QPR.'' QPR


July 28, 2006 BBC -Power challenged to buy back QPR
Gianni Paladini has challenged the man he ousted as QPR chairman to come up with a bid to buy back the club.
Bill Power, a lifelong R's fan, has invested in Swindon Town since leaving Loftus Road after losing a bitter struggle for control last year.
But Paladini has hinted that ex-agent Antonio Caliendo, the London club's current main investor, could quit.
"I keep hearing people didn't want Bill to go and think he should come back. This is their chance," said Paladini.
"Let him or anyone else who thinks they can do a better job come forward and let's hear what they have to say."
After a series of behind-the-scenes problems, Power was forced out when former Brazil captain Carlos Dunga attended an all-important board meeting and voted with Paladini to remove him.
Power had sought to gain a controlling interest in the club but Dunga's unexpected appearance tipped the balance against him.
Paladini and Caliendo seized control and chief executive Mark Devlin was then sacked.
Dunga had previously not attended any board meetings having become a director as part of the Caliendo-led Monaco-based group that bought a stake in 2005 and now effectively own the club.
Dunga stood down as a director this week after landing the job of Brazil coach.
And Paladini has suggested that Caliendo and another board member, Italian businessman Franco Zanotti, may also now quit.
But Paladini insists they expect to recoup the money they have put into the club and has previously said it would take an offer of over £8m for them to relinquish control.
Any would-be buyer would also then have to tackle Rangers' sizeable debts.
"If Caliendo and Zanotti pull out it would make it difficult for me to carry on because I don't have that kind of money," Paladini admitted.
"If Antonio doesn't want to carry on I don't know what will happen. We will talk on Tuesday and discuss the way forward."
But he added: "We will listen to anyone that wants to make an offer but it will not come cheap, that's for sure.
"Bill Power got 6.5p-a-share when he sold his stake and the same would have to apply here. BBC


July 25, 2006 - QPR's Italian Tour-The tour was first announced in April:

Paladini's QPR Rivals Interview (May 2) -New Suits
"... When we go to Italy in the pre-season all the players will have tailor made suits, with the club badge on so the players will really look the part for next season. That's another deal we've done."
http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410350

Paladini & Waddock Visited Italy at the End of April:
Also in that May 2, QPR Rivals Interview of Clive Whittingham's
"What will the team be doing this pre-season?
One week, the 23rd to the 29th of July I think, in Sorrento. Gary and I have been in Italy this week looking at the hotel and the facilities and it looks fantastic, a really first class place. We'll be playing two games against Savoia and Cavese, just warm up matches and then we're hoping to come back and play Fulham that Sunday but that hasn't been confirmed yet. Hopefully we'll be able to take some supporters with us to Italy, three hundred people for three hundred pounds each or something like that but there'll be more details later. http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410348

April 26 - QPR OFFICIAL SITE - ITALIA!
Sorrento
This summer, QPR will be preparing for the Championship season with a pre-season tour of Italy.
Gary Waddock and his squad will be travelling to the Gulf of Naples on July 23 and will face Sorrento Calcio and SS Cavese in a warm up to the 2006-07 campaign.
This season has been a successful one for both Italian teams. Sorrento finished top of Serie D Girone I and won promotion into Serie C2. Cavese also clinched promotion from Serie C2B and will play in Serie C1 next year.
Rangers will play on the Tuesday and Friday night, before returning to England where the final fine tuning will take place before the season begins.
The club are currently negotiating with Travel Counsellors to agree the best possible deal for fans wishing to travel.
The official trip will consist of accommodation, transfers and match tickets and will be seven days, six night from July 23 to 29.
Flights will have to be booked separately and can be done so via Travel Counsellors.
Any supporters who would like to register their interest can contact Carly Charteris at Travel Counsellors on 0845 058 7681.
A full and complete price package will be in place by next Wednesday May 10.
For all those supporters wishing to travel and pre-register, details will be sent to you no later than Wednesday evening.
Below is a brief outline of the history of Cavese, and for any Italian speaking Rangers, links to the clubs websites.
Sorrento Calcio
Cavese
Cavese were founded in 1919 as Unione Sportiva Cavese, and played its first match ever against Salernitana, ended in a 3-2 win for the Aquilotti. In 1922 the team merged with Libertas Sporting Club, another local team, in order to build a more competitive side. That same year, the team was admitted to the First Division (the equivalent of the nowadays' Serie A).
In 1974, after the relegation of the original team, who was playing the Serie D at the time, Cavese merged with Pro Salerno, another Serie D team, and renamed itself as Pro Cavese. The team returned to Serie C in 1978 and took back its original denomination in 1980.
In 1981, Cavese was able to gain its first (and only) promotion to Serie B. The first Serie B season for Cavese ended in a 15th place which allowed the team to avoid relegation. The 1982/1983 was the top season ever for the Campanian team in its whole history: in fact, Cavese was almost to reach a incredible promotion to Serie A, ending the first half of the season in a third placed, which would allow the promotion, and sixth at the end of the season.
That championship is remembered especially for the crushing 2-1 victory in San Siro against AC Milan. The scorers were Joe Jordan for Milan, and Tivelli and Di Michele for Cavese: after this shocking win, the team was nicknamed Real Cavese by the Italian sports columnists.
However the next season Cavese relegated to Serie C1, and was not able to reach Serie B anymore. The team was even cancelled from Italian football in 1991, and readmitted in the regional Eccellenza league with the current denomination.
Cavese website
Sorrento Calcio websitehttp://www.sorrentocalcio.com/indice.htm
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~821771,00.html

QPR OFFICIAL SITE
R's fans making the official pre-season trip to Italy this summer will have the unique opportunity to mix with their heroes.
Gary Waddock and his squad travel to the Gulf of Naples on July 23 and will face Sorrento Calcio and SS Cavese in a warm up to the 2006/07 Coca Cola Championship campaign.
Supporters wishing to meet the managerial staff and players can do so at their Sorrento training camp on Thursday 27 July.
"Pre-season is a vitally important time for me and the players, but it'll be nice for them to be able to mix with the supporters,'' Waddock told qpr.co.uk.
"Although we'll be pushing them very hard in Italy, you can't expect it to be all work and no play and this will be a fantastic opportunity for them to chat with the supporters and share their views on the forthcoming season.''
You can rub shoulders with Wads' and Macca in Italy
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~830832,00.html


21 - July 2006 QPR OFFICIAL SITE ITALIAN JOB
Sorrento FC
As the clock ticks down on the R's pre-season preparations, qpr.co.uk brings you the final details of the Club's trip to Italy.
Gary Waddock's side face Serie C outfit Sorrento FC on Monday (6.30pm local time), before a trip to San Antonio Abate FC on Friday (6.30pm local time).
Please note, the San Antonio fixture replaces the scheduled game against Cavese FC.
The Italian Club's pitch is currently unplayable and as a result, the R's have been forced to switch their opposition at the eleventh hour.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~870710,00.html

Official Site - Player Scott Donnelly on the Tour
DAY ONE -SCOTT DONNELLY
QPR's pre-season trip has begun and each day we'll be catching up with the latest happenings with our players' diary entries.
Today a home sick Scott Donnelly told qpr.co.uk how his first day had been as Gary Waddock walked past three times, unable to get his door key to open his room.
Despite the fact that Monday was pencilled in as a rest day for the players - an hour long meeting this morning, followed by a pre-match meal left little time for any play.
A local tailor then came to measure the players for matching suits and then it was off to Sorrento.
Here's how Scott Donnelly has found the first day of his first trip abroad.
"I didn't mind the flight, it was a nice steady journey all the way - there were a couple of the lads who don't enjoy it as much but thankfully they got here in one piece!
The hotel is unbelievable and the food is lovely. The people are really friendly as well, they just can't understand us!
The pool looks nice, but it's been all work so far and none of us have had a chance to go in it yet.
We had a meeting this morning to go over what we'd be doing throughout the week and what our schedule will be.
We went through everything to do with pre-season so far. We were given the opportunity to go through things that we didn't like, but hardly anyone had any complaints.
It's been spot on throughout and there wasn't very much negative feedback at all. In fact, the only complaints were that some of the lads wanted to do MORE training.
Then we went through tonight's game against Sorrento and talked about how we're going to approach it.
I'm rooming with Jake Cole, I get on really well with him and he's in the same boat as me.
It was a massive thing for me that I got picked to come here and really was made up, this is my first trip away with QPR and it's great to be here and it's a great experience.
I've never been to Italy before, but I'd definitely come back with my family or my girlfriend. I'd like to be able to order my food and drink on my own though without having to ask Mauro or Marc!
I'm looking forward to the game tonight; I've never played a foreign team before so this will be a bit of a change for me."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~871787,00.html

QPR Set Off For Italy-
[The 18? players going on the tour - along with whom else from the club will be going, has yet to be officially announced.]

QPR OFFICIAL SITE re Italy Trip
"As the clock ticks down on the R's pre-season preparations, qpr.co.uk brings you the final details of the Club's trip to Italy.
Gary Waddock's side face Serie C outfit Sorrento FC on Monday (6.30pm local time), before a trip to San Antonio Abate FC on Friday (6.30pm local time).
Please note, the San Antonio fixture replaces the scheduled game against Cavese FC.
The Italian Club's pitch is currently unplayable and as a result, the R's have been forced to switch their opposition at the eleventh hour.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/News/0,,10373,00.html

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - Waddock on Italy Tour -
GARY WADDOCK'S POSTMATCH ASSESSMENT
.....''Rangers travel to Italy for the final chapter of their pre-season campaign tomorrow and Waddock is looking to use the trip as a team bonding exercise."The core of our squad will travel and although the games are important, working on our fitness and team spirit will be the priorities."We'll be training twice a day and aim to come back with the batteries fully charged for the first match of the season up at Burnley.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~870949,00.

ITALY TOUR
QPR Defeat San Antonio Abate 4-0
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - MATCH REPORT
"Rangers signed off their pre-season tour with a 4-0 win over San Antonio Abate. A goal in the first half from Nick Ward was followed by second half strikes from Marc Nygaard, Shabazz Baidoo and Ray Jones to seal the win at the Angri FC stadium.....
San Antonio Abate: Spicuzza, Giorgio, Pisano, Rufini, Ruggiero, Del Sorbo, Bizzarri, Villa, Tortora, Capucceilli, Alfano
Rangers: Jones, Bignot, Milanese (Howell), Rose (Kanyuka), Fortune, Rowlands (Bailey), Ainsworth, Ward, Cook, Nygaard (R Jones), Czerkas (Baidoo)
[And photo of "Gianni Paladini with the cup presented to QPR"]
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~874183,00.html

Also: Clive Whittingham/QPR Rivals - Match Report

Ron Norris/QPR Net - Match Report

Sorrento 5 QPR 1 - WADDOCK ON THE OFFICIAL SITE PLASTIC NOT FANTASTIC

Gary Waddock admitted that the scoreline in Sorrento didn't worry him one bit - it's all about Burnley.The 5-1 drubbing is of little importance to Rangers' pre-season training schedule and Waddock has still got his sights firmly on the game at Turf Moor in just under two weeks.
Speaking after the game, the manager said: "Nobody wants to get beaten by a scoreline like that, but we've had to play on an artificial surface which we weren't due to play on.
"It was meant to be a grass surface so we've had to change the team accordingly.
"I've got players in positions they aren't used to Alan McDonald and Tony Roberts had to play in the end to make up the numbers.
"So although we got beat, there are reasons for that and this game wasn't taken too seriously at all.
"Sorrento won their league last year and it was an exhibition match and a celebration for them.
"The most important thing was that we didn't pick up any injuries and we didn't lose three points.
"I didn't want to play Cook, Rowlands but one or two of the lads were feeling the heat a bit.
"We'll need every single player against Burnley, not a game against Sorrento.
"We don't play on this sort of surface during the year - the scoreline doesn't bother me at all."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~871791,00.html

OFFICIAL SITE MATCH REPORT - RIM RIPA
A first half hat-trick from Ripa sealed Rangers' fate as they fell 5-1 to Sorrento Calcio.The Italian's goals were too much for QPR, despite a cracker from Adam Czerkas in the first half.
No matter how hard the Rs tried in the second half, the Italians were much more at home and the visitors were unable to get a look in.
The plastic surface meant that many first team regulars were rested for the first game, but Rangers were still able to field a strong side against the Italian outfit.
Waddock was able to give his youngsters a run out with Jake Cole taking up a spot between the posts and Ray Jones lining up alongside Czerkas.The first job for the squad was to clap the travelling support along with the local fans that had turned up to see the Londoners.
Rangers must have still been adjusting to the one hour time difference, because no sooner had the game kicked off, Sorrento took the lead.
Cole seemed to have gathered Ripa's shot, but somehow the ball seemed to slide through his fingers and into the back of the net.
Cue party time for the Italian fans.
Donnelly though almost restored parity seconds from the kick off when his free kicked tested Ambra in the Sorrento goal.
The hundreds of QPR fans behind the goal were treated to some quick footwork from Nick Ward, many of whom were seeing him for the first time.
At one point the Australian steamed through the middle in support of Adam Czerkas, but the Polish striker needed no help at all as he unleashed one hell of a strike into the back of the net.
Despite the heat, Rangers refused to take their foot off the gas and Waddock's words of advice about taking the game easy seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
Ward was showing what an engine he has and Ray Jones was proving to be a threat up front.
However, Ripa clearly felt that the Rangers back line were in fact playing the game at 50 per-cent when he completed his hat-trick in two minutes.
Cole found himself beaten twice in quick succession to certainly make this a case of the Grim Ripa wreaking havoc with the R's.
Ward then tried in vein to get QPR back in the game just before half time, but his 30 yard effort clattered against the post.
There was a whole new meaning of 'exhibition football' when Alan McDonald made a special appearance in the second half.
But the Rangers legend had his work cut out when three minutes into the second half, Rastelli brushed off the appeals for off side and slotted past Cole.
Waddock then gave some of his tired troops a rest with Czerkas and Ward being replaced by Cook and Rowlands.
Anyone would have thought that Rangers were struggling to make up the numbers when veteran 'striker' Tony Roberts came on in place of Fortune.
The introduction of the two midfielders however did seem to make a difference.
Cook went close to scoring an impressive solo goal, but the midfielder put his effort just wide of the near post after travelling a full 30 yards untouched.
It was soon 5-1 despite some excellent recovery work from Jake Cole who had twice denied Rastelli before he finally finished the job.
Rangers then had two chances to pull one back when Cook and then Donnelly both had fierce strike parried to safety by Ambra even though they had both looked certain to score.
McDonald then incensed the home fans with a rather 'over friendly' challenge on their star man - good to see some things never change!
A disappointing result, but a decent work out all the same.
Sorrento: Ambra, Ferrara, Pezzella, Marciano, Ferraro, Iorio, Ingenito, Ottobre, Ripa, Russo, Maiorano
Subs: Rastelli, Solimene
Rangers: Cole, Bailey, Armel, Fortune (Roberts), Howell, Ward (Rowlands), Baidoo, Pinto (McDonald), Donnelly, R Jones, Czerkas (Cook).
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~871786,00.html

Also: Report/Background from Ron Norris/QPR Net
http://www.qprnet.com/firstteam/0607/matchreports/ps_sorrento.shtml

And Clive Whittingham/QPR Rivals
http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8416921

A QPR 11 reportedly defeated a University of BATH Team 5-0 (with a Bircham hattrick
This was a pre-match notification
TEAM BATH:
Football: TeamBath FC to take–on a QPR XI in pre–season friendlyFriday, 14 July, 2006
TeamBath FC kick-off their pre-season friendlies with a mouth-watering home match against Queen’s Park Rangers.
The University of Bath side meet a QPR XI at Twerton Park on Monday 24th July in a 7.30pm kick–off as part of TeamBath’s preparations for their forthcoming season in the British Gas Business Southern Football League Premier Division. QPR’s first team players will be on tour in Italy at the time, but they are expected to bring a strong reserve team squad to Bath for the contest, including some younger players aiming to break into the first team this season.
The match will be particularly poignant for two members of TeamBath’s coaching staff – head coach Andy Tillson and assistant coach Ivor Powell – both former QPR players. The fixture was arranged because Tillson is close friends with QPR manager Gary Waddock – the pair transferred from QPR to Bristol Rovers at the same time. QPR reserve team manager Justin Skinner also played for both clubs.
“The QPR game will be a good fixture for us and an important part of our pre–season build–up,” said Tillson. “Our pre–season friendlies are part of our strategy to make sure we hit the ground running when the season gets underway on the 19th August. “We were looking for a balance of games to help get us ready for the season,” he added. “Some of the games will be tough, some are against teams in different leagues but at the same level as us and some of them we should hopefully do quite well against to give us a bit of confidence.”
http://www.teambath.com/news/index.php?Action=8&id=1116&page=0


QPR OFFICIAL SITE REPORT ON QPR RESERVES VS BATH
FIVE STAR
Hat-trick hero Marc Bircham
Marc Bircham bagged a hat-trick as the Reserves thrashed Team Bath 5-0 on Monday evening.
The victory - sealed by late goals from Steve Lomas and Stefan Moore - ensured a winning start for the R's new Reserve team boss Justin Skinner.
"It was a fantastic performance,'' Skinner told qpr.co.uk.
"The senior pros put on a very positive display. The attitude was first class; the work rate was fantastic; and the quality shone through in the end.''
The R's were made to wait until the 55th minute before making the breakthrough at Twerton Park.
Bircham opened the floodgates with a tidy close range finish from Matt Hislop's cross, before going on to bag his hat-trick soon after.
Stefan Moore was on target
Lomas and Moore put the icing on the cake for the R's - to the delight of Skinner.
"We couldn't have asked more of the players,'' he told qpr.co.uk.
"When the goal didn't come in the first half we had to regroup a bit at the break - but we took it to them and the class shone through in the second half.
"Each and every player has come out of the game with huge credit.''
Although Gary Waddock and the rest of the first team staff are currently in Italy, Skinner revealed he'll be reporting back to the gaffer on a daily basis.
Justin Skinner got off to a winning start
"I've already spoken to Wads and I'll continue to keep him updated throughout the week.
"It was nothing but good news from my point of view last night though. The players were excellent and the travelling support really made a difference.''
QPR Reserves: Trialist, Yelland, Hislop, Evatt, Stewart, Doherty, Lomas, Bircham, Cousins, Arthur, Moore. Subs (all used): Sandercombe, Brown, O'Brien, Goode, Maguire, Rose.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~871890,00.html

After missing QPR targets, Dunga has switched tribes
Evening Standard (London), Jul 26, 2006 by WAYNE VEYSEY
FROM director of Queens Park Rangers to manager of Brazil.
That is some quantum leap for Carlos Dunga, the midfield footsoldier who lifted the 1994 World Cup and has now been trusted with guiding Brazil to the top of the tree in South Africa in 2010.
It is an extraordinary show of faith from the five-times winners, given that Dunga has no managerial experience and has turned down dozens of offers to move into coaching since retiring seven years ago.
A knock-on effect of the 42-year-old's appointment is that he has resigned as a non-executive director at QPR - even though he was not required to do so under FIFA rules.
Rangers say Dunga will continue to be a shareholder "for the time being" but it seems only a matter of the i's being dotted and t's being crossed before the final whistle is blown on one of English football's most bizarre relationships.
The Brazilian icon became involved with QPR 22 months ago when he emerged as the figurehead for two mysterious Monaco-based consortia, Barnaby and Wanlock, who had invested Pounds 1.7million for a 30 per cent stake in the club. But what exactly has he contributed to the Super Hoops?
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Still instantly recognisable with the buzz-cut hairstyle that he paraded as one of football's most reliable midfield enforcers, Dunga was greeted with enthusiasm by supporters when he first arrived at Shepherds Bush.
He explained he had been persuaded to come on board by his friends at Barnaby, who included QPR kingpin Antonio Caliendo, a former football agent, and looked forward to being an ambassador for the club, promoting their name across the globe and using his South American contacts to alert them of any top young talent. In an interview with Standard Sport, Dunga displayed a deft touch in public relations by naming all the Loftus Road heroes of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s.
Some were sceptical of his involvement but others appreciated the muchneeded glitz and glamour he brought to Loftus Road, qualities which had been absent in the post-administration era.
There were fears that Dunga had been recruited to unseat manager Ian Holloway but the multilingual Brazilian stressed he had no ambitions in that field, ironic as that now appears.
"I've got no intention of being a football manager," he explained. "I get phone calls every week from clubs asking me to be their manager. In Brazil, I've been asked three or four time this season to manage Flamengo."
However, Dunga was to have little time for QPR in a hectic schedule that centred on his work as an ambassador for the Brazilian national team and consultant to one of his former clubs, Jubilo Iwata in Japan.
He went to only a handful of Rangers games in two years and failed to bring in any South American talent, blaming work permit restrictions on the players.
When quizzed by one supporter at last year's AGM what he actually brought to the Loftus Road plate, Dunga was evasive before chairman Gianni Paladini leapt to his defence, claiming: "He brought in money to save this club, that's what he has helped with."
The former Fiorentina and Stuttgart star was one of five men said to have invested equal sums of around Pounds 500,000 in QPR, a shareholding that now stands at 49 per cent.
Yet it would appear not to be a match made in heaven for Dunga, who cynics suggest may have been recruited by the Monaco consortia as a frontman to appease supporters dubious of investment from unknown foreigners.
Apart from the cash and the publicity, it seems his legacy to Rangers will prove to be the role he played in ousting Bill Power and Mark Devlin, the former chairman and chief executive, from the board last summer.
This dramatic coup ultimately paved the way for Paladini and Caliendo, now a director, to assume full control at the cash- strapped club.
Dunga had not attended any of the previous six board meetings before he flew into London to use his casting vote to axe Devlin and Power. Maybe it was that kind of ruthlessness which so impressed the powerbrokers at the Brazil Football Federation.
Brazil Star in a nutshell
After missing QPR targets, Dunga has switched tribes Brazil star in a nutshell Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri (nicknamed Dunga, which is Portuguese for Dopey) Born: 31 October, 1963, Rio Grande do Sul Position: midfielder Clubs: Internacional (1980-84, 1999-2000), Corinthians (1984-85), Santos (1986-87), Vasco da Gama (1987), Pisa (1987-88), Fiorentina (1988-92), Pescara (1992-93), VfB Stuttgart (1993-95), Jubilo Iwata (1995-98) International career: Brazil (1987- 98) - 91 games, six goals; led country to 1994 World Cup triumph Post-retirement: QPR director 2004-2006, Appointed Brazil head coach July 2006
Standard

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - CARLOS DUNGA
New Brazil boss Carlos Dunga has tendered his resignation as non-executive director of the R's. Dunga - who joined QPR in September 2004 - was named as Brazil's new boss on Monday evening....Speaking from the Club's first team training camp in Italy, R's Chairman Gianni Paladini said: "Dunga has resigned with immediate effect.'' Paladini continued: "I'd like to wish him all the best and thank him for everything he has done for Queens Park Rangers Football Club.'' Dunga will continue to be a QPR shareholder for the time being.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~871903,00.html

Gillingham 0 QPR 1 - The QPR & Gillingham Perspectives
GARY WADDOCK'S POSTMATCH ASSESSMENT
Gary Waddock praised the first half performance of Nick Ward, after the R's beat Gillingham 1-0 at The Priestfield Stadium.
The Australian midfielder played his first 45 minutes for the R's, as Waddock's men made it two wins on the spin in pre-season.
"Nick did very well in the first half and almost capped his display with a wonderful goal,'' Waddock told qpr.co.uk.
"To be fair the keeper has pulled off a wonderful save and credit has to go to him for that.
"Nick has settled in well and we're all really looking forward to seeing him in action when the Championship kicks off on August 5th.''
In a match disrputed by substitutions, Rangers won the game courtesy of Ray Jones' 70th minute winner.
"I was pleased with the first half. We played some good football; our passing and movement was good, so from that point of view I'm delighted.
"The changes disrupted our play in the second half - but we've won the game, kept a clean sheet and that's obviously very encouraging.''
Rangers travel to Italy for the final chapter of their pre-season campaign tomorrow and Waddock is looking to use the trip as a team bonding exercise.
"The core of our squad will travel and although the games are important, working on our fitness and team spirit will be the priorities.
"We'll be training twice a day and aim to come back with the batteries fully charged for the first match of the season up at Burnley.''
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~870949,00.html

QPR OFFICIAL SITE FULL TIME: GILLS 0 QPR 1
A fortuitous winner from Ray Jones sealed an otherwise drab affair at The Priestfield Stadium.
Jones bagged the only goal of the game on 70 minutes, in a match disrupted by wholesale changes from both sides in the second period.
In truth, the R's did just enough to warrant victory, on a day when Nick Ward made his first start for the Club and Marc Nygaard and Dan Shittu made their first appearances of the pre-season campaign.
Despite decent chances for debutant Ward and skipper Kevin Gallen, it was goalless at the break.
Gallen went closest to breaking the deadlock just after the half hour, rifling a powerful shot in to the grasp of Gills keeper Raymond Homoet.
And in a half in which Rangers enjoyed the majority of possession, Ward forced Homoet into a terrific diving save at his near post.
Earlier, Ward had to wait just one minute and 42 seconds for his first touch in a QPR shirt, cushioning a neat touch into the path of Damion Stewart.
But it was Gareth Ainsworth who provided the first moment of magic, turning his marker on a sixpence with an outrageous piece of close control on the right touchline.
Rangers were calling the shots early on, and after fine interplay between Gallen, Marcus Bignot and Lee Cook, Martin Rowlands dragged his right foot shot well wide.
The visitors continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession and when Ward found Cook with a fantastically disguised left footed pass, the wingers' cross narrowly evaded the onrushing Nygaard.
The returning Shittu came to Rangers' rescue when Dean McDonald broke through the last line of the R's defence on 18 minutes, and from the resultant corner, Paul Jones gathered safely.
Ward was improving as the half wore on and after being involved in a fine Rangers counter-attack, he shot wide from the edge of the box.
The Aussie midfielder seemed certain to open his account for the R's on 22 minutes, but after a perfectly weighted through ball from Cook, his cushioned right footed drive from eight yards forced Raymond Homoet into a fantastic full length save.
Gallen was unlucky not to put the R's ahead on 32 minutes, when from a long punt forward by Jones, he shot straight into the grasp of Homoet.
The half ended on a sour note for Bignot, who just moments after picking up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Clint Easton, was forced from the fray with a suspected hamstring injury.
Stefan Bailey replaced him at right back, as the half drew to a quiet conclusion.Waddock rang the changes at the break, with Ward and Shittu among the seven players replaced.
The substitutions seemed to disrupt the R's pattern of play, with Gillingham creating the first chance of the half on 49 minutes courtesy of Clint Easton's in-swinging cross which narrowly evaded the Gills front-men.
Gary Mulligan's volley on the turn awoke a poor home crowd, before Gills boss Ronnie Jepson made a double substitution on the hour.
Buoyed by the introduction of fans' favourite Brent Sancho, Gillingham created two chances in as many minutes soon after, both of which were cleared to safety by Pat Kanyuka.
Rangers' first opportunity of the half arrived on 65 minutes, when from a quick throw in on the right flank, Gallen combined well with Ainsworth.
His back post cross seemed destined to find Ray Jones, but Homoet plucked the ball from the air and left Jones pole-axed by the far post.
Jones soon made amends though, seemingly getting the last touch to Rowlands' wide free-kick on 70 minutes, as the R's finally broke the deadlock.
As the ball tricked goalwards, the entire Gillingham defence seemed to go AWOL, and Homoet was powerless to prevent the ball from squeezing in at his far post.
There was certainly an element of luck to Rangers' breakthrough, but few can deny Jones deserved it, after another heartening display from the teenage striker.
Shabazz Baidoo should've put the result beyond any doubt on 80 minutes, but with the goal at his mercy, he shot straight at Homoet, when a more accomplished finish would surely have reaped greater dividends.
Undeterred, the pacy striker kept knocking on the door and was unlucky not to beat Homoet with a piercing left footed drive from an acute angle.
Gillingham: Homoet, Jackman, Flynn (Karim 72), Cox (Sancho 60), Bentley (Crofts 60), Mulligan, McDonald (Ndunbu-Nsungu 46), Easton (Pouton 72), Johnson (Stone 87), Clohessy, Jarvis (Collin 82).
Subs: Beckwith.
QPR: P Jones, Bignot (Bailey 44), Howell (Rose 46), Stewart, Shittu (Kanyuka 46), Ainsworth, Rowlands (Baidoo 72), Ward (Donnelly 46), Cook (Tchakounte 46), Nygaard (R Jones 46), Gallen.
Subs: Cole.
Bookings: Bignot 41
Sending Offs:
Goals: R Jones 70
Attendance: 1,472
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~870929,00.html

Friday, July 21, 2006
Relegation? Bookmakers View QPR as Good Relegation Bet!

RELEGATION? QPR seem to be viewed by bookmakers as one of the favourites for relegation (basically after Southend and Colchester. With Plymouth and Barnsley also viewed as good relegation bets.

From Ladbrokes - http://www.ladbrokes.com/lbr_sports?action=go_event&category=SOCCER&class_id=110000006&class_sort=FB&type_id=110000557&ev_id=210891748&ev_mkt_id=-2
Relegation betting

Colchester 2.50
Southend 2.75
Burnley 3.25
QPR 3.25
Barnsley 3.75
Plymouth 3.75
Sheffield Wednesday 4.00
Stoke 4.00
Hull 5.50
Ipswich 5.50

FROM CORALS
http://www.coral.co.uk/sb.go?page=grouppage&groupid=120558&lang=20&sid=20&ms=MS&type=0

ValueChecker http://www.valuechecker.co.uk/21670576.htm
http://www.valuechecker.co.uk/all_21670576.htm

4TheGame "Editor's Picks - Betting With Ladbrokes"
"The Editor turns his attentions to the new domestic season, with his tips for the title winners and relegation fodder in the English leagues...
"...Championship winners - Sunderland - With the Iconic Niall Quinn installed as new chairman and the fact they haven't lost any of the players that won them the Championship two seasons ago, they should be a good bet.
Relegated - Plymouth - Ian Holloway may have taken over at Home Park but I see a difficult season ahead for the former QPR boss.
QPR - Having signed Australian midfielder Nick Ward we could be duped into thinking the good times are ahead for Rangers, I suspect not.
Luton - Mike Newell's side over achieved last season being near the top of the league early on before settling in mid-table I fear they could be found out this season.
http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/191286/editors_picks__betting_with_ladbrokes.html

Ian Holloway Looks Forward, Looks Back
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"...If you have sat in your garden for five months, and probably been put their unfairly in your own mind, then hopefully your enthusiasm doesn't wane."
http://www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/OlliesOpinion/0,,10364~870201,00.html

[NB: Holloway's latest signing is 34-year old Barry Hayles from Millwall. When Holloway was at QPR, QPR were linked with a Hayles interest."
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/5190300.stm

Danny Shittu Won't be Playing....Several Other Players Not Yet Match Fit (Ben Kosky, Kilburn Times)-
Shittu move still a no-go
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times, July 19, 2006

"Unsettled defender Danny Shittu will be absent from QPR's pre-season build-up this week after the club rejected an increased Watford bid for their star player.The Hornets have offered £2m to prise Shittu from Loftus Road - well short of Rs chairman Gianni Paladini's asking price. Paladini reiterated that there was 'no chance at all' of him allowing Shittu - who is under contract to Rangers for another two years - to leave for less than £3m.
The big centre-back will play no part in tonight's friendly at Stevenage Borough and is unlikely to be involved when Rangers travel to Gillingham on Saturday. Manager Gary Waddock denied that the uncertainty over Shittu's future had induced him to leave the player out, explaining that he plans to give Matthew Rose a run-out instead."Danny's not available at the moment and that's because he needs to get a little more fitness work under his belt before he plays," said Waddock." No disrespect to Stevenage - we won't be putting out a full-strength team, but we'll try and give players a longer time on the pitch."
Jamaican international Damion Stewart is set to make his QPR debut in the Stevenage match, but supporters will have to wait a little longer to see Australian midfielder Nick Ward in action."We need to get Nick Ward right up to speed before we show him to the crowd. It's a big step for him and I don't want to throw him in too quickly," added Waddock.
Front pair Paul Furlong and Marc Nygaard, along with left-back Mauro Milanese, are also short of fitness, but midfielder Martin Rowlands is expected to make his first appearance for six months.And Rangers will also include new signing Egutu Oliseh, who agreed a two-year contract on Monday after impressing the manager in training.The Nigerian midfielder became Waddock's fourth summer signing - and another followed last night when Polish striker Adam Czerkas agreed a one-year loan deal.
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED18%20Jul%202006%2019%3A51%3A43%3A777

Lee Cook on Wanting Waddock as Manager (Ben Kosky, Wembley and Kingsbury Times)
-Waddock job convinced Cook to stay
Ben Kosky, Wembley and Kingsbury Times July 19, 2006

LEE Cook has revealed he would have thought twice about extending his QPR contract if the club had overlooked Gary Waddock for the manager's job. Cook, whose previous contract had a year left to run, signed an improved deal that will keep him at Loftus Road until 2009 last month. But the winger,....was anxious to know who he would be playing under before penning his signature. Cook's place in the side rarely seemed assured under former Rs manager Ian Holloway, who often preferred to deploy Martin Rowlands or skipper Kevin Gallen on the left of midfield....
"I wouldn't have signed unless I knew who the manager was and I wanted to know that it was Gary."Before I signed my contract I phoned Gary on holiday just to make sure everything was going to be sorted out with him first."I feel I've played decent football under him and so have the rest of the team. He's a great coach and I hope he's going to be successful as QPR manager."
I always wanted to sign - they made me the offer just before I went on holiday and I left it to my agent to sort out all the bits and bobs." Gianni [Paladini] said there would be a few new players coming in this summer - and that was good to hear, because it's going to be a difficult season, especially with the teams that have come down into this league."
Cook was an ever-present in the team under Waddock last season and is now within touching distance of his 100th appearance since joining the club from Watford two years ago.But for the knee injury he picked up at Hull in the opening game of last season, which kept him out of action for the next six weeks, he would have been even closer to that target.And Cook is confident that the arrival of sports scientist Mark Barry, recently appointed by Waddock, can help reduce Rangers' often lengthy injury list."Mark's come in and he's got his own ways of getting players fit," said Cook. "We've got the heart rate monitors every training session and he makes sure everyone's working to their full potential, which is good for the club."....."We know it's going to be harder than last year, but I feel there were certain results we should have got last season and we have to put those right this time."If we're more physically fit, that should help keep the concentration going right through the 90 minutes and hopefully we can turn some of those slight defeats into wins.
http://www.wktimes.co.uk/content/brent/wembleychronicle/sport/story.aspx?brand=WKCOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportwkc&itemid=WeED18%20Jul%202006%2019%3A47%3A56%3A930


Paladini on Shittu & WBA
-SkySport July 27, 2006 - Rangers drop Shittu hint
Queens Park Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini has hinted that West Bromwich Albion are close to meeting his side's asking price for Danny Shittu.
Rangers have been vehement in their insistence on recouping a £3 million fee for Shittu this summer - a price stipulated in the player's contract.
Premiership new boys Watford fell short in their bid to land the 25-year-old Nigerian, who also interests Birmingham, but Paladini admits Championship side Albion could be about to succeed where The Hornets failed.
"This has taken so much of my time, it has to be finished off now," said Paladini.
"If we have to wait for the money in instalments, then that's fine, but I always said the fee would be £3 million.
"When you see other players of similar talent going for more, you realise that what we want for Danny is more than reasonable." Sky Sports

QPR Reportedly Making Another Foreign Signing...Polish Striker, Adam Czerkas
BBC - QPR agree deal for Polish striker QPR have agreed the signing of Polish striker Adam Czerkas. The player will join from Odra Wodzislaw subject to completing a medical after he impressed manager Gary Waddock during a trial.
Czerkas, who recently turned 22, is expected to feature in a pre-season friendly against Stevenage Borough on Wednesday night.
Waddock has been keen to sign a striker and is also interested in Southampton's Dexter Blackstock.
Rangers have had a busy summer and have so far signed defender Damion Stewart and midfielders Armel, Nick Ward and Egutu Oliseh.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/5191508.stm

UPDATE: QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SIGNS ON ONE YEAR LOAN
CZERKAS SIGNS
Gary Waddock's prolonged search for a striker is finally over - after Polish front-man Adam Czerkas today (Tuesday) put pen to paper on a one year loan deal with the R's.
The 22 year-old - who impressed Waddock during pre-season training and again in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday - signed on the dotted line at Loftus Road this evening.
Rangers have the option of signing the Kolporter Korona SSA striker on a permanent basis at the end of his loan spell....
[Garry Waddock:] "It's no secret that we've been on the look out for a striker for months, not just weeks, and our patience has finally been rewarded. "Obviously I'm delighted we've secured his services and if what we've seen in training and in the practice match is anything to go by, R's fans are in for a treat next season.
"He's got a great eye for goal, has terrific movement, is good with his back to goal and has the unique ability of being able to get in behind defenders.
"He'll complement our current crop of attackers and we've got extremely high hopes for him next season.''
The former Kolporter Korona SSA attacker - who measures in at 6'1'' and will wear the number 28 shirt - is in line to make his R's debut against Stevenage Borough on Wednesday.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~869243,00.html

July 17, 2006 - QPR Chairman Giannai Paladini Again Categorically Assures: Shittu Definitely Stays if Less than £3 Million
-BBC QPR hold out for £3m Shittu offer
Shittu is a target for Watford
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini insists his club will not accept less than £3m for defender Danny Shittu.
Watford have had a bid for the giant centre-back rejected, while Leeds and West Brom have shown an interest.
Shittu, 25, has a clause in his contract allowing him to speak to any club that offers £3m for him.
And Paladini said: "There is no way whatsoever we will accept any less than that. There is absolutely no chance he will leave for less. No chance at all."

Shittu moved to Loftus Road from Charlton in 2002 in a £350,000 deal funded by QPR fans Matthew and Alex Winton.

He has since made 162 league appearances and is a firm favourite among supporters.

"I don't want him to go," Paladini added.

"We're building a team and brought in Damion Stewart to play alongside him and we think those two will be a good combination.

"I think he is worth more than £3m but because of the contract, there's nothing I can do if somebody offers us that.

"Joleon Lescott went for £5m and Claude Davis went for £2.5m. Danny is a better defender than both of them.

"Danny Shittu will definitely stay here unless someone offers £3m. It's as simple as that."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/5188882.stm

QPR Sign Egutu Oliseh-
Official Site: QPR Sign Egutu Oliseh
QPR have today signed midfielder Egutu Oliseh on a two year deal after he impressed Manager Gary Waddock
QPR have today signed midfielder Egutu Oliseh on a two year deal after he impressed Manager Gary Waddock.
The 25 year old - who impressed Waddock during the R's 1-1 pre-season draw against Aldershot Town - has put pen to paper on a two year deal at Loftus Road.
"I'm very, very happy and now I can't wait for the season to start," he told qpr.co.uk. "From the very first day I came here to train I have been impressed. It is all so organised, I couldn't ask for more.

"That was what really impressed me. Everything is calculated, from the physical trainer through to the manager. If training continues in this way, I'm sure you will see the best from every one of us.
"My first aim now is to become a regular in the side."
Oliseh, who was born in Lagos, spent last season with Belgium outfit La Louviere, after previous spells with French quartet Nancy, Louhans-Cuiseau, Beauvais and Grenoble.
Oliseh has been on trial with the R's for the past fortnight

Oliseh could make his R's debut against Stevenage at Broadhall Way on Wednesday and Waddock is excited about seeing his latest signing in action, commenting: "He's really impressed me in training and against Aldershot. He's attack minded and technically very good.
"It's yet another signing to bolster our squad ahead of the new season and I'm looking forward to having every Manager's favourite dilemna - picking my best eleven.
"This recent signing has ensured that I'll have more than enough midfield options and I'll be able to mix it up accordingly depending on the opposition." QPR

Also: BBC

QPR Official Site - June 16, 2006 - MK DONS GAME CANCELLED
Gianni Paladini would like to make the following statement, after making the decision to cancel the game against MK Dons on July 15."After several phonecalls and threats from our own supporters, I have decided not to go ahead with the game."I was extremely embarrassed at having to call the club secretary at MK Dons after he had done all he could to arrange a fixture on a day where we struggled to find any opposition."We were tremendously grateful to MK Dons for having initially agreed to play the fixture after Brentford cancelled the original game due to be played on July 18."Had that cancellation not have arisen, this whole situation would have been avoided."After Brentford pulled out, QPR re-contacted ALL Premiership and Football League clubs within a two hour travelling distance, yet MK Dons were the only club who answered our request."QPR apologises to everyone at MK Dons who pulled out all the stops to arrange a fixture at such short notice and also to all our fans that were willing to travel to the MK Dons fixture and were looking forward to visiting a new ground."Gianni Paladinihttp://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~840228,00.htmlQPR

Official Site - June 15, 2006 -
QPR are pleased to announce a pre-season friendly against MK Dons on July 15.After only just receiving the official word from Brentford that the game scheduled for July 18 was to be cancelled, QPR have been busily trying to arrange a fixture to take its place and are delighted that MK Dons have been able to fulfil our requirements.MK Dons were themselves trying to hastily find opposition after also having a game cancelled.The game will take place at the National Hockey Stadium and will kick off at 3pm and will be the first meeting of the two clubs since the Dons' move to Milton Keynes.Gary Waddock said: "I'm obviously very pleased to have managed to get another pre-season game fixed up as quickly as this, and my thanks go to MK Dons for answering our request."We needed another game around that weekend, and I'm now looking forward to visiting Milton Keynes for the first time with a QPR side."It's not that far and hopefully our fans will turn out in force to support us there."http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~839766,00.htmlQPR

OFFICIAL SITE - JUNE 13, 2006 BRENTFORD GAME OFF
This morning, QPR were informed that the pre-season game against Brentford has been cancelled.Despite contacting Brentford last week, we were led to believe that the game would still be taking place in spite of the fact the Club had received several phone calls from fans to ask if the game was still going ahead.Assistant Secretary Terry Springett explains: "It's very disappointing to have been informed of Brentford's decision to pull out at such a late stage, especially when we contacted the club last week when rumours had started to surface the game may have been in doubt."Only last Wednesday we were informed by Brentford that the game was indeed to go ahead, so at the time, felt it unnecessary to make an announcement on the official website."It would appear that their initial decision to take the game against us was taken without thorough consultation with their groundstaff, who have now informed the Club that the pitch at Griffin Park will not be ready in time."However, having received a phone call from Brentford this morning, we would like to inform our fans that the pre-season game against them, scheduled for Tuesday July 18, is indeed off."We will be doing our best in the next few days to find suitable alternative opponents for that weekhttp://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~839038,00.html

Letter sent by QPR1st after MK Dons Game was announced QPR1st

QPR Report


QPR OFFICIAL SITE -ROYCIE'S RECOVERY
Pre-season has just begun for Rangers, but for Simon Royce he still can't wait to get cracking.
The Ranger number one suffered a set back ....Speaking to qpr.co.uk, Roycie explained how the setback occurred.
He said: "During the close season I started to do some running in the gym and I was fine. Then I stepped it up to do some running outside and started to feel a pain in my groin.
"I came in the day before we were all due back and Prav had a look at it and said that I'd re-inflamed the ligament that I'd damaged in February.
"So I went for an injection straight away, hoping that it would settle down quite quickly but it hasn't healed 100 per-cent yet, despite having gone for a second injection on Tuesday."
Having had the most aggressive cortisone he was allowed this week, Royce must now wait and see if he'll be fit to take part in any of the pre-season games before the big kick-off.
"That's the last injection I can have now as you're only allowed three a year and of course I had the initial one in February.
"It's now a case of making sure that the groin is fully healed as neither myself nor Prav want me to come back too early and risk damaging it.
"It's an impossible situation as I don't want to risk damaging it further, but equally I'd like to get some games under my belt before the season starts.
"Now with the signing of Paul Jones, competition for places is at its strongest. I wouldn't want to lose my place, bearing in mind how well Jonesy played when he came in last year."
Royce admitted he has been impressed with the training methods so far, but it's bitter sweet due to the fact he hasn't yet been able to get involved.
"The training this year has trained for the goalkeepers, it's more geared towards our specialised position rather than plodding round a field and doing a load of running.
"We're doing more short-sharp quick footwork which is more relative to the job in hand.
"Having seen that it makes me even more determined to get fit again so that I can join in.
"By Monday we should know if that last injection has worked and then we'll take it from there.
"If it has worked then we can start stepping up the training. At the moment I'm doing a lot of core stability work focussing on abdominals and my upper body strength."I've done a couple of session with Mark Barry, he's definitely 100 per-cent committed to getting the team fitter than they've ever been and the feedback from the lads is positive. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~867669,00.html

July 13, 2006 - QPR's Low Agents Payments-
QPR's Payments to Agents in the First Six Months of 2006
[The complete Football League "Agents Fee Report - Season 2005/06" can be viewed at http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/f6/64/0,,10794~25846,00.pdf
[From January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2006, QPR paid 16,000 pounds for agents. (From June 5 2005 to June 6, 2006, QPR spent in total 147,600 pounds to agents.)
10 - New Registrations and Transfers
2 - Updated Contract
6 - Cancelled Contract
10 - Loans
(28 - Total )

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - AGENTS' FEES
"The latest Football League Agents' Fees report has been released and makes for healthy reading for the R's.
The report, which focuses predominantly on the last six months, as well as the entire 2005/06 campaign, was released this morning.
During the last six months - which saw QPR make 28 transactions (which includes new registrations and transfers, updated contracts, cancelled contracts and loans) in total - the Club committed just £16,000 to agents.
Rangers committed £147,600 to agents during the 2005/06 campaign - a small proportion of the overall sum of £6,311,853 committed to agents in the Championship. ...
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~867174,00.html

July 12, 2006 - QPR Announce Team Numbers
[List included a number of people who were transfer listed]
1. Simon Royce
2. Marcus Bignot
3. Mauro Milanese
4. Ian Evatt
5. Dan Shittu
6. Tommy Doherty
7. Matthew Rose
8. Marc Bircham
9. Nick Ward
10. Kevin Gallen
11. Gareth Ainsworth
12. Jake Cole
14. Martin Rowlands
15. Dominic Shimmin
16. Steve Lomas
17. Lee Cook
18. Stefan Moore
19. Tchakounte-A
20. Scott Donnelly
21. Paul Jones
22. Shabazz Baidoo
23. Stefan Bailey
24. Pat Kanyuka
25. Damion Stewart
26. Sean Thomas
29. Paul Furlong
30. Marc Nygaard
34. Matthew Hislop
35. John Munday
QPR


Nick Ward on Joining QPR (Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times)-
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
Ward visit gives Rangers a liftBen
"...Ward narrowly missed out on a place in the Aussies' World Cup squad, but he is convinced his move to Loftus Road can propel him on to the big stage next time around.....Ward, who has signed a two-year contract at Rangers, observed: "If you look at the World Cup team, most of the players who were starting games play in Europe."The game is definitely getting much bigger in Australia and I'd never seen the media going on about soccer as much as they did - it's usually all about Aussie rules, rugby and cricket."But as much as the A-League is getting better, I think you've got to be in Europe to further your game.
I'm sure I made the right decision and I'm happy to be here."I was on the fringes of the World Cup squad and it was disappointing not to make it, so the Olympics in 2008 and the next World Cup in 2010 are realistic goals for me."...
: "We don't get a lot of Championship football on TV over there - it's mostly the Premiership - but I know this is also a good league because I've seen a lot of Australian players who have come over, started in the Championship and done well.
"It's a good standard and the amount of games you play here as opposed to in Australia was definitely something that attracted me." ....
I've got a target of scoring 10 goals this year and I hope we can get to the play-offs at least," said Ward. "That's what we want to aim for." I've already done a pre-season in Australia, so I'm fairly fit and I want to cement my spot in the starting line-up. This is a good opportunity for me to get some games in the Championship and hopefully get noticed. Kilburn Times
Also: Photos of Nick Ward Joining QPR - (Photos by Nick De Marco)

QPR's Interest in Adam Czerkas and Other Trialists (Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times)
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Czerkas set to fill the gap

QPR could strengthen their front line by signing Polish triallist Adam Czerkas after losing out ... Bradley Wright-Phillips.... The 6ft 1in striker, who turns 22 tomorrow, is currently playing for Odra Wodzislaw and has been on trial at Loftus Road this week.
Waddock said: "Bradley Wright-Phillips is a player I like and he would have been a good addition to the squad."He is the type of player we want at this club, whether on loan or permanent and I'd have love him to have joined us."But he's not, so we move on and see if we can get somebody else in to take us forward. There are areas of the squad I know we need to improve and that's down to me to sort out."As we move on through pre-season I'm going to look at one or two different things that may help us."
Waddock is also interested in signing midfielder Egutu Oliseh, who is the younger brother of former Nigerian World Cup captain Sunday Oliseh and appeared in last weekend's friendly at Aldershot Town. The younger Oliseh, 25, has spent most of his career in French football with Nancy and Grenoble, but played for Belgian club La Louviere last year.
QPR included three other triallists against Aldershot - left-back Anthony Tonkin, who made nearly 100 appearances for Crewe during the last three years, as well as Congolese striker Betu Tshamanga and former Bristol Rovers centre-back Tobi Jinadu.
Kilburn Times



QPR's Coaches Assess the Players at the Aldershot Game (Official Site)
-From the Official Site
WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

With pre-season training in full swing and the first game under their belts, how do the new look coaching staff think things are going?....
Gary Waddock on performance:
"The Aldershot game was a good fitness test for us and I was pleased with the work-rate of the players. It gave a lot of them the chance to get 45 minutes of action under their belt.
"The result of the game wasn't important to us. We need to make sure we are at our peak when we play Burnley in the first game of the season, that's when results start to matter. Between now and then it is simply a case of building up to that opening fixture."

Alan McDonald on formations:
"It was difficult to take a great deal away from the Aldershot game as we played two different teams either half."We tried a different formation to what we usually play. We hadn't done too much work with it but I felt that it certainly worked well in the first half.
"The changes in the second half saw it not working as well but I was still really pleased with the level of performance."But on the whole, this was more of a chance just to look at the young lads and those on trial, that was the main objective."

Justin Skinner on preparation and approach:
"The preparation for the first game is always a little bit sketchy, we went into the game not really working on set pieces, that wasn't our focus, that will come later."It's always a bit of a trial getting the logistics right when you want to field two different teams, but it went well overall I think."Behind the scenes it's going very well. Mark has been working hard on their fitness and this will be a hard week for them. Their attitude has been first class, from the young kids to the experienced pros.

Reserve team manager Justin Skinner out training
"They have been taking on new ideas that we've all put in. There hasn't been any moaning, we haven't given them a chance. It's been quality rather than quantity and has all been ball and game related."The staff side of things has become very organised, we say what we'll do, do it, then have a de-brief at the end of the day."We set out our session plans, get together and everyone is aware of what their jobs are for the day. All the training is set out, we don't wonder what we're going to do off the cuff. Prav Mathema also has an input, it's very much a joint effort."The boys have reacted to that because it's so well planned. They all have ice baths now after training which was new to them. They are weighed in and out, every detail is looked into and we've addressed a lot of aspects."We have a meeting every Monday morning with the staff to outline what went right and wrong the previous week. Today we spoke about how the game went and what could have gone better."

Tony Roberts on helping to achieve personal goals:
"Over the last ten days I've been getting the keepers back into their prevous good habits and routines. Paul Jones was back late due to international duty and Jake Cole was ill, so I've had a good chance to work one on one with Sean Thomas."I knew he was going to play the full 90 minutes on Saturday so we went over absolutely everything."Jake and Jonah are playing catch up now, so today the three of us worked on the technical side of goalkeeping - catching, distribution kicking and so on.
"It's good to get a structure for them like I do with the Academy keepers, there's a lot of organisation that's going into it."I have six keepers in all, from spring chickens to full internationals. Some are more agile and I need to accommodate all of them. I will do a lot more 'reps' with the younger ones because they can handle it and because they need more practise."You don't need to get Jonah in the gym whereas some of my youngsters may need more upper body strength. With each keeper they need a different plan."

Mark Barry on fitness:
It's a steady progression towards the Burnley game. For the match on Saturday against Aldershot, we were probably at 50% fitness-wise."By the time of the next match, we will be around the 75% mark. For the opening fixture of the season the players will be at 100%, which is our main objective.
"You can train as much as you like but, obviously enough, to be match-fit you need to play matches, so these games are imperative if the players are going to get used to the speed of the game, and so on. "At this stage, the fitness level of the lads is spot-on. We're making sure that we don't peak too early because if we reach 100% a week before the Burnley game, there's only one way to go - and that's down. I've got to make sure that doesn't happen." QPR

July 10, 2006 - Aldershot Match Report
Shots hold Championship side at the Rec in impressive opener that surprisingly saw former defender Tobi Jinadu feature for the West Londoners
After Saturday afternoon's performance at the Rec against Championship side Queens Park Rangers it was quite apparent that the lessons of last season's calamitous pre season have been learned.
Aldershot were able to field a side in the first half that included five new signings added to the trial appearances of the impressive Andy Edwards and Phil Anderson. The return of midfielder David Lee after an eleven month absence brought the cheer of the day from the Recreation ground faithful. Only Nikki Bull, Dave Winfield and Ryan Williams featured from the squad that were performing at the end of last season. Indeed former defender Tobi Jinadu lined up for the R's.
The home crowd were suitably impressed with the performances especially the exciting link up play of Dean Smith and Louie Soares down the right hand side. Their endeavour deserved a goal but it was Ryan Williams who went closest in the first half with a 20 yard effort.
The visitors went into the interval with a slender lead courtesy of an expertly taken 35 yard free kick from Tommy Doherty whose precise effort rounded the wall and, despite Nikki Bull's flying dive, there was no chance of saving it.
At the break both sides made nine changes. Whilst Rangers were able to field the likes of Kevin Gallen, Lee Cook, Steve Lomas and Ian Evatt, the home side paraded a host of youngsters including Sean Ridgway, Ryan Scott and new goalkeeper Louis Wells. But it was the forward pairing of strikers Mark Pritchard from Swansea City and Kirk Hudson that stole the show. They posed plenty of problems for the visitors with an exciting combination. It was Scott, however, who laid the ball through a treat on the hour for Pritchard to latch on and strike goalbounds only for keeper Sean Thomas to force behind for a corner. Scott drove powerfully a minute later from 25 yards as Aldershot looked a confident and industrious unit. On 63 minutes a great link up between Hudson and Pritchard allowed the former to unleash a cracking drive that Thomas forced away despite being pushed backwards.
Keeper Wells, as did Nikki Bull in the first half, produced a tremendous save close at the feet of a Rangers striker to show that the club has a replacement goalkeeper that looks comfortable.
As the game progessed Soares, who had re-appeared produced a fine effort after good holding play from Pritchard that went just wide from 20 yards.
However Aldershot did score the goal that they deserved on 84 minutes when Pritchard finished off from close range at the far post from a deep Soares right sides centre.
Although results are immaterial in pre season friendlies this was a match that the home side certainly deserved something out of.
Teams: Shots (First Half)- Bull, Smith, Anderson, Lee, Edwards, Winfield, Soares, Moleseley, Grant, Gayle, Williams Shots (Second Half)- Wells, Salmon, Corbett, Edwards (Soares 67), Anderson (Milletti 60), Hicks, Whisken, Ridgway, Scott, Hudson, Pritchard
QPR (First Half)- Thomas, Bignot, Tonkin, Armel, Kanyuka, Jinadu, Ainsworth, Olisen, Moore, Doherty, Baidoo QPR (Second Half)- Thomas, Munday, Donnelly, Kanyuka (Jinadu 58), Gallen, Cook, Lomas, Evatt, Hislop, Tshmanga, Bailey Referee: John Farries Assts: Tim Ingram, Ian Kitchen Att: 1340 Aldershot

Aldershot Post-Match Assessment

[Also: Photos of Aldershot vs QPR from Nick De Marco
http://www.pbase.com/qpr/aldershot_v_qpr

Friendly Result: QPR 1 Aldershot 1
-From QPR Official Site - Match Report
'The bearded wonder [Tommy Docherty] struck on 25 minutes with a perfectly executed free kick to give Rangers the lead.
But as the clock ticked down, Mark Pritchard bundled the ball home at the far post to deny Rangers a winning opening....
Armel made his way into the starting line up, and there were plenty of trialists on show.
From the off, Shabazz Baidoo was looking especially lively with some neat touches, including one cheeky back heel into the path of Gareth Ainsworth.
In was the winger himself who mustered Rangers' first effort, although the summers' rustiness saw his shot fly wide of the mark and more than lacking in pace.
Sean Thomas then had to be on his guard to scoop up Mark Molesley's strike after Pat Kanyuka had gifted the Shots midfield with the ball.
With Aldershot also playing their first football of the new pre-season campaign, both sides seemed to be finding their feet without really testing the defences in the final third.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Tommy Doherty scored an absolute peach of a free kick that Nikki Bull failed to get near.
From 20 yards out, Doherty curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner - think Beckham, think World Cup, and then you're almost there.
Rangers were close to going 2-0 up when Marcus Bignot attempted to poke the ball over the line following a corner, but Bull managed to scramble the ball to safety.
Neither team looked willing to break into a sweat in the afternoon heat, but Rangers were yet to be bothered by anything that the Shots could throw at them.
Waddock freshened up his side after the break, making nine changes.
Kevin Gallen and Lee Cook were among some of the first teamers to make an appearance in the second half.
You would have thought that the two fans' favourites would have combined better to have put Rangers 2-0 up, but when Cook laid the ball off for the skipper, Gallen blasted well over.
Sean Thomas then showed the watching Paul Jones how it was done when Ryan Williams stormed through with only the young stopper to beat.
With half of the Rec already cheering, Thomas went full stretch to palm the ball round the post.
Thomas then produced yet another fine save when a Kirk Hudson effort flew straight at goal, but the Rangers keeper beat it away to deny a certain goal.
Finally Rangers fell into sync, passing the ball around with ease and sending Aldershot off to chase shadows.
Louis Soares tried unsuccessfully to restore parity, but although his long distance effort may have looked impressive, it was never going to trouble Thomas.
Finally Aldershot found the back of the net when Pritchard bundled the ball over the line following a deep cross across the face of goal.
Thomas could do nothing to prevent the ball from falling past him and it was a shame to concede such a sloppy goal after his earlier fine efforts.
This was no more than a run out for Rangers and although several gave a good account of themselves, Waddock will not have been looking for more than a competent display.

Aldershot: Bull, Smith, Anderson (Milletti), Lee, Edwards, Winfield, Soares, Molesley, Grant, Gayle, Williams

QPR first half: Thomas, Bignot, Tonkin, Armel, Tobi, Kanyuka, Ainsworth, Olisen, Moore, Doherty, Baidoo
QPR second half: Thomas, Kanyuka (Tobi), Munday, Cook, Evatt, Lomas, Donnelly, Gallen, Bailey, Trialist, Hislop
Scorers: Doherty QPR

OFFICIAL SITE - Garry Waddock's Comments
SLOW BUT STEADY
Rangers may have been denied a win, but Gary Waddock is happy with the start his side have made.Waddock stressed the importance of peaking too soon during the pre-season warm up games and reiterated the fact that the only game he is concerned about right now is the trip to Burnley.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw at Aldershot, the Rangers manager said: "I'm pleased with what I've seen today, we don't want to peak now, it's all about building our fitness up as we approach our first League game of the new season.
"We have a slow and steady approach so that we peak at that point, not too soon before.
"We've seen a few things that we can go back and work on next week and we'll look forward to cracking on in our next game.
"Most of the players got 45 minutes and that was our aim.
"I was pleased with Armel at the back and there was one particular trialist that I was very pleased with - I'm sure the fans who were here today will know who I'm talking about.
"I want to thank the fans who turned out today as well. They were great as always."
Waddock watched the gam